Eskom has reported a decrease in theft and vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure, including mini-substations, transformers, and high-voltage pylons, compared to the previous year. However, these criminal acts remain a severe threat to South Africa’s power stability and public safety.
Recent Arrests and Financial Impact
A recent intelligence-driven operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) led to the arrest of six suspects found with stolen Eskom equipment worth R1.5 million. The suspects appeared in the Ngwelezane Magistrate’s Court on 7 April 2025.
From April 2024 to February 2025, infrastructure-related crimes cost Eskom R221 million, down from R271 million in the same period the previous year. While this decline is encouraging, Eskom warns that continued vigilance and community involvement are crucial to further reducing these incidents.
Why Infrastructure Crime is Dangerous
Monde Bala, Eskom’s Group Executive for Distribution, highlights the severe consequences of infrastructure vandalism:
- Prolonged power outages due to damaged transformers or pylons, which can take weeks to repair.
- Rising theft trends, including pylon steel stripping, illegal sand mining near pylons, and transformer oil siphoning.
- Life-threatening risks, such as transformer explosions, pylon collapses (especially after heavy rains), and deadly electrocutions from high-voltage lines.
“When criminals drain oil from transformers or tamper with pylons, they risk catastrophic failures that can cause fatalities and leave communities without power for extended periods,” says Bala.
New Trends: Deliberate Sabotage of Power Lines
Eskom has noted an alarming increase in individuals throwing metal chains or wires onto power lines, causing flashovers that trip electricity supply. These reckless acts not only cause outages but have also led to severe injuries and deaths.
How Communities Can Help
Eskom urges the public to:
- Report suspicious activity near power infrastructure.
- Avoid buying stolen cables or transformers (often sold as scrap metal).
- Educate others on the dangers of tampering with electrical equipment.
Report Vandalism or Theft:
- Call Eskom’s Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22
- SMS: 31090
- Contact local law enforcement.
“We cannot afford to lose more lives or endure further power disruptions due to these crimes. Protecting Eskom’s infrastructure is everyone’s responsibility,” Bala concludes.
