City Power Copper Theft Scandal: Staff Caught Stealing the Very Network They’re Meant to Protect

Three employees were caught red-handed trying to smuggle R200,000 worth of copper. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

On a day meant to honour public service and social upliftment, three City Power employees were quietly doing the opposite. While much of South Africa spent Mandela Day volunteering and giving back, a cleaner, a trade assistant, and an EPWP worker were allegedly making off with 840 pieces of copper piping, concealed in boxes, loaded into a company vehicle, and almost out the Reuven Service Delivery Centre gates.

That is, until City Power’s routine checkpoint search stopped them in their tracks.

The copper haul, valued at over R200,000, could’ve fueled months of illegal infrastructure deals, had they succeeded. Instead, the suspects were handed over to police on-site, and are now facing criminal charges.

City Power Cracks Down on Inside Jobs

This is no isolated incident. City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava confirmed the arrest is part of a wider internal clean-up effort launched in March 2025. So far, 15 employees are facing disciplinary charges for corruption-related offences, many tied to fraud, theft, or collusion with external contractors.

And these aren’t just junior staffers. Electricians, team leaders, security officers, even senior managers have been caught up in the dragnet.

Since March 2024, a staggering 47 disciplinary cases have been processed, including multiple suspensions and at least one criminal prosecution.

“These are individuals entrusted with safeguarding our network,” said Mashava. “It is disturbing and deeply disappointing to find that some of our own staff have turned against the very infrastructure they’re paid to protect.”

Shootouts, Syndicates, and Sabotage

Just days before the Reuven arrests, a separate operation in Denver turned violent. City Power security, alongside SAPS, JMPD, and private guards, came under fire during a confrontation with infrastructure vandals.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the incident exposed the growing boldness and militarisation of these theft syndicates.

“The shootout in Denver shows just how dangerous this has become,” Mashava said. “We’re not just dealing with petty criminals. These are organised groups, armed and willing to confront law enforcement. But we will not back down.”

Why Copper Theft Hits So Hard

For ordinary Joburg residents, the consequences of copper theft are all too real. Stolen cabling and infrastructure lead to widespread blackouts, prolonged repair times, and tens of millions in damages every year. And while Eskom’s load reduction dominates headlines, sabotage like this quietly chips away at any hope of power stability.

On social media, residents reacted with a mix of frustration and grim humour. “So we’re paying high tariffs just for the staff to steal from us? Can we invoice them for the outages too?” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Another quipped: “City Power employees stealing copper on Mandela Day? Bra Madiba must be shaking.”

A Long Road Ahead

City Power insists this crackdown is just the beginning. With public trust eroding and Johannesburg’s electricity grid under constant strain, rooting out internal corruption has become mission critical.

The message from City Power is clear: No one is above the law, even if you wear the uniform.

Whether that’s enough to restore faith in the utility? That remains to be seen.

{Source: The Citizen}

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