Johannesburg, 17 January 2025 – Residents of Johannesburg have been struggling with prolonged power outages caused by a surge in cable theft and vandalism targeting City Power’s infrastructure.
These criminal acts, made worse by recent storms, have disrupted services across the city, leaving thousands in darkness and placing additional pressure on an already strained power grid.
While City Power has responded by repairing damage, restoring electricity, and arresting those responsible, the utility is calling for greater community involvement and support from law enforcement to reduce cable theft and vandalism.
Over the past week, City Power has recorded over 800 power outage calls in areas supplied by its Hursthill, Greenside, and Inner City Service Delivery Centres (SDCs). The spike in vandalism follows a worrying trend: as City Power increases security in one area, criminals target new locations.
Notable Incidents:
- Hursthill & Fairland West:
On 7 January, vandals completely ransacked the Roosevelt Substation, stripping it of essential components such as a 315 KVA transformer, busbars, and copper cables. This left residents of Fairland West, Wilson, and surrounding streets without power for days. City Power teams worked around the clock to install a replacement transformer, successfully restoring electricity. - Greenside:
Criminals vandalized the Parkhurst Substation on 10 January, stealing a mini substation and 80A medium-voltage fuses. The theft delayed power restoration, affecting several neighbourhoods reliant on the substation. - Newlands:
Batteries from a standby generator were stolen twice quickly, on 11 December 2024 and again on 6 January 2025. These thefts disrupted power to Market Road and nearby streets. City Power has secured a transformer to restore stability and prevent further disruptions. - Inner City SDC:
On 11 January, five suspects entered an underground manhole on Von Brandis Street, cutting vital cables and tampering with infrastructure. Security personnel apprehended one suspect while the others fled. Repairs are ongoing, with City Power emphasizing the need for increased vigilance in the area. - Central Substation (Selby East Distributor):
During the festive season, criminals stole 230mm MV copper cable, delaying power restoration to many residents for weeks. The recent heavy rainfall worsened the situation, flooding tunnels and hampering repair efforts. Despite the setbacks, City Power remains committed to completing the necessary repairs.
For residents, the outages have brought hardship. In Fairland, small business owner Thandi Mokoena explained, “We’ve been relying on expensive generators to keep operations running. The constant outages are draining us financially and emotionally.”
City Power also faces increasing costs. Replacing stolen or damaged infrastructure, including copper cables and transformers, is expensive and time-consuming. Isaac Mangena, spokesperson for City Power, stated, “We are incurring significant losses due to these crimes, which threaten not just our operations but also public safety.”
City Power has implemented several strategies to combat theft and vandalism, including:
- Deploying additional security personnel at high-risk substations.
- Conducting coordinated patrols with local law enforcement and community forums.
- Installing tamper-proof technology in vulnerable infrastructure.
These measures have resulted in over 35 arrests in recent weeks, but City Power acknowledges more needs to be done to address the root causes of this crisis.
A Call to Action for the Community
City Power urges residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious electrical infrastructure activity. They also appeal to law enforcement agencies for stronger collaboration and swift action against offenders.
Mangena stressed, “We cannot do this alone. Protecting our city’s infrastructure requires a partnership between City Power, law enforcement, and the community.”
To support this effort, City Power has set up an anonymous tip-off line and WhatsApp reporting system for residents:
- Call: 011 490 7900 / 011 490 7911
- WhatsApp: 083 579 4497
