State-owned power utility Eskom has apprehended a suspected copper cable thief at the Matla power station after security officers discovered the individual during routine search duties.

The incident, which took place on June 23, was reported to the Kriel police station, with the suspect now facing charges of theft and unlawful possession of about R4 000 worth of copper cable.

The arrest of the suspect aligns with Eskom’s zero tolerance approach to illegal activities. Eskom has recorded a 5% decrease in crime incidents across the company’s power stations in the 2023/24 financial year, compared with the prior year.

Earlier this month, Eskom also reported the apprehension of two suspects in a case involving critical infrastructure tampering and possession of stolen copper bars at a substation in Mpumalanga. One of those suspects has been convicted by the Kriel Magistrate Court and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.

The utility urges the public to report suspicions of illegal electricity sales, fraud and theft of coal, fuel oil and diesel, as well as infrastructure theft and vandalism to 0800 112 722 or through WhatsApp on 081 333 3323.