Copper cable theft is having a devastating effect on the economy, resulting in indirect costs estimated at about R5bn a year.
Essential services provided by Eskom and Transnet have been seriously disrupted by the scourge, which has catapulted SA into becoming one of the world’s leading exporters of copper to countries such as China and India.
Last year there were 72533 reported incidents of copper cable theft and 10736 arrests were made, South African Police Services deputy provincial commissioner in Gauteng, Maj-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, told a special hearing in the National Council of Provinces yesterday.