Johannesburg Residents Secure Power Lines from Theft

Johannesburg residents are taking electricity security into their own hands as cable theft cripples power supply across the city. With City Power and police services stretched thin, communities are deploying varied resources to protect infrastructure, revealing a stark divide between affluent and low-income areas.

Wealthier Suburbs Enlist Private Security

In suburbs like Greenside, Parktown North, and Kensington, private security firms lead the charge against cable theft. These officers patrol electricity infrastructure, act as first responders, and share intelligence with police. This collaboration is formalized through City Power’s Community Partnerships Program, which has over 800 signed agreements.

Judith Ancer of the Greenside Residents Association explained they pay about R450 monthly for security to patrol and lock substations. “We’d much rather spend the extra money on beautifying our local park, but we had to start with the basics,” she said. Following their 2019 agreement and a switch to less valuable aluminium cables, theft incidents have dropped significantly.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed the program allows businesses, security companies, and residents’ associations to voluntarily protect the network.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Low-Income Areas Rely on Volunteer Patrols

The situation differs drastically in lower-income neighborhoods. Areas like Jeppe and parts of Cleveland lack resources for private security, forcing residents to conduct unarmed foot patrols. Richard Francis, Cleveland Community Policing Forum chair, noted these volunteers are crucial “force multipliers” in poorer communities.

However, these patrols face extreme dangers. “We are unarmed, and they’ve opened fire on our patrollers before,” said Jeppe CPF Chairperson Zenzile Ayanda. He expressed frustration with City Power’s responsiveness, claiming they rarely assist with identifying stolen copper during raids.

Massive Financial Toll on City Power

The cable theft crisis carries a heavy financial burden. City Power loses approximately R25-million monthly to theft and vandalism. In the 2023–2024 financial year, non-technical losses like theft and illegal connections totaled R3.5 billion. This year alone, cable theft has caused R114 million in losses.

Mangena acknowledged that while City Power spends R100-million on private security, their primary responsibility isn’t infrastructure security—that falls to Metro Police and SAPS. He noted high-risk areas like Malvern and Jeppe pose additional dangers to staff and contractors, making consistent security support challenging.

As the cable theft epidemic continues, Johannesburg’ electricity security increasingly depends on what individual communities can afford, creating unequal protection across the city’s landscape.