Copper thieves in George leave residents in the dark

GEORGE NEWS - The children are hungry, the dinner is halfway cooked and the power is out again.

But this is not a routine outage. Copper thieves have ripped apart the electricity network, and the lights may stay off for up to 48 hours.

For families relying on electricity for essential medical equipment, the consequences can be dire.

George Municipality recorded 257 incidents of theft and vandalism affecting electrical infrastructure between July 2025 and June 2026, and 81 cases were opened with the police.

According to Michael Rhode, director of electrotechnical services, the highest number of incidents was recorded in November 2025 and June this year, 33 each, followed by 28 in May. "The municipality, law enforcement and the police work continuously to investigate incidents and arrest suspects," he said. "There have been arrests and operational successes. However, cable theft remains a persistent challenge, and some individuals allegedly become involved in repeat offences."

Possible organised crime links

Rhode believes some incidents may involve organised criminal activity. "Certain cases are investigated by specialised police units dealing with organised crime," he said.

He could not provide further operational or investigative information while some investigations remain ongoing.

The municipality is also part of the Non-Ferrous Metal Combating Committee (NFMCC), which works to combat the theft of copper and other non-ferrous metals.

Outages can last up to 48 hours

The impact goes beyond the stolen cable, as residents and businesses are left without electricity while repairs are under way.

The outage spans depend on factors such as the extent of the damage, the type and amount of cable stolen, the location and accessibility of the site, safety conditions, the availability of replacement materials and the complexity of the repairs.

"When incidents occur, particularly at night, the responding team conducts a risk assessment. If it is safe and practical to proceed, repairs are undertaken immediately," Rhode said. "If the risks are too high, the team will make the infrastructure safe and return as soon as possible, normally during daylight hours or when adequate operational support is available."

Incidents occur across the municipal area, and thieves often targeting infrastructure in areas with limited movement, poor visibility or isolated electrical equipment that is difficult to monitor.

Cost still being calculated

The financial cost of the theft and vandalism has not yet been finalised.

Rhode said the cost extends beyond replacing stolen copper and includes repairs to damaged electrical infrastructure, kiosks, transformers and other equipment, as well as labour, emergency and after-hours call-outs, overtime, vehicles, etc. Lost electricity revenue from affected areas also adds to the impact.

The municipality says it has introduced several measures to combat cable theft, including increased patrols and inspections, CCTV monitoring where available, improved lighting and stronger protection of vulnerable infrastructure.

It is further exploring improved cable identification and marking, alternative materials with lower resale value and increased use of CCTV and other technology where possible.

Confiscated stolen copper cables.

Thieves, scrapyards and a R150/kg problem

Cable thieves are becoming increasingly brazen as residents are reporting theft in broad daylight in parts of George.

Meanwhile, some legitimate scrapyards say they are playing their part to combat the problem by checking the copper's origins before buying it.

Last weekend, George Herald received a video showing some alleged cable thieves operating in broad daylight in Reiger Park and Syferfontein in Pacaltsdorp.

Rosemoor residents have also raised concerns about cable theft, and many incidents on PW Botha Boulevard are also recorded.

The situation is particularly concerning at night, as many affected areas are considered too unsafe for municipal officials to enter after dark.

The residents describe the thieves as brazen and, in some cases, violent.

Security companies are also feeling the pinch. BA Security says they recorded about 15 cases of cable theft in George between May and August.

In one recent incident, they came across five people digging a trench in PW Botha Boulevard. Four suspects fled when they approached, but one was apprehended and found in possession of a spade and cable. He was handed to the Conville Police.

It is widely believed that scrapyards buy the copper from the thieves. However, with copper theft continuing to cripple George's electricity network, some scrapyards say they check where the copper comes from before they buy any.

A local scrapyard, whose owners asked not to be identified, said copper currently fetches about R150 per kilogram, and members of the public are bringing copper to the premises on a daily basis.

Sellers are required to provide identification and an address, and the staff establishes from where the materials come. "If it was obtained from their employer, they must provide a contact number or a letter from them," the scrapyard said.

Businesses or dealers selling copper must likewise provide a letter authorising the transaction.

Certain types of cable and electrical infrastructure immediately raise concerns, and transactions are supposed to be refused if the staff suspect the material might have been stolen, after which the police have to be called.

The business said it had not encountered any confirmed cases of suspected stolen cable during the past 12 months. It said legitimate scrapyards in George communicate with one another and with the police about suspected stolen copper.

The establishment does not believe the recent rise in copper prices has contributed to increased theft, but rather to "illegal, unlicensed dealers" operating in the town.

Legitimate scrap metal dealers have to undergo police inspections to ensure they have the required systems in place and comply with the law.

The scrapyard said it supports stricter checks on people selling copper to ensure the material is legitimately obtained. Staff also work with neighbourhood watches and the police through WhatsApp groups, and information about break-ins and theft is shared so they can be alert to attempts to sell stolen material.

The scrapyard said legitimate dealers have an important role to play in combatting copper theft by gathering as much information as possible about sellers and the source of the material before completing transactions.

With several cable theft incidents recorded in George over the past year, the battle ultimately depends on stopping stolen cable from finding a market in the first place.

George Herald approached several local scrapyards for comment regarding the copper theft issue. Only one company responded.

Residents are urged to report suspicious activity near electrical infrastructure on the municipality's 24-hour contact numbers: 0860 044 044/044 801 6300.

A trench dug in Pacaltsdorp, from where copper cables were stolen earlier this year.