Three employees of City Power were arrested, along with 4 others, for copper theft, on Mandela Day, 18 July 2025.
Arrests were made in Reuven and Lenasia.
The utility’s security caught the three, trying to leave the Reuven Service Delivery Centre (SDC), with 840 pieces of stolen copper pipes, with a street value of over R200 000, concealed in a box.
The other four were arrested in Denver, at 485 Main Reef Road, on Sunday evening of the 13 July 2025, at approximately 23:20.
They dug a 35-metre trench, believed to be part of a cable theft or sabotage operation. The suspects opened fire, leading to a tense exchange of gunfire between them and the police.
Tshifularo Mashava, CEO of City Power, said “it is disturbing and deeply disappointing to find some of our own staff allegedly involved in the theft of public infrastructure. These are individuals entrusted with safeguarding our network, yet they’ve betrayed that responsibility. We will pursue disciplinary action without fear or favour.”
Picture: Supplied