April 9, 2025

Theft and Vandalism of Electrical Infrastructure Cost Eskom R221 Million in Last 11 Months

Eskom has reported a year-on-year decline in criminal activities targeting its electrical infrastructure but warns that incidents remain at concerning levels, with significant consequences for both electricity supply stability and public safety.

Financial Impact Down but Still Severe

From April 2024 to February 2025, infrastructure vandalism and theft have cost Eskom approximately R221 million, representing a decrease from the R271 million lost during the same period in the previous year. While the 18% reduction indicates some progress, the utility emphasizes that these losses continue to strain its operational capabilities.

The financial toll comes at a time when South Africa has been experiencing its longest stretch without loadshedding in years, raising concerns that continued infrastructure attacks could threaten this stability.

Recent Law Enforcement Success

In a recent development, Eskom acknowledged the South African Police Service (SAPS) for conducting an intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of six suspects. The individuals were found in possession of Eskom property valued at R1.5 million and appeared in the Ngwelezane Magistrate's Court on Monday, April 7, 2025.

Rising Concerns: New Methods of Sabotage

Monde Bala, Eskom's Group Executive for Distribution, highlighted troubling new trends in electricity infrastructure attacks:

• Throwing metal chains and wires onto power lines, causing flashovers and tripping
• Removal of pylon steel structures
• Illegal sand mining around pylons, compromising structural integrity
• Siphoning oil from transformers

These activities not only disrupt supply but also create significant safety hazards for both perpetrators and the public. There have been reported cases of severe injuries and fatalities resulting from contact with electrified objects hanging from power lines.

Impact on Communities and Businesses

The utility emphasized that vandalism leads to unplanned power outages that can leave areas without electricity for extended periods. The restoration process is particularly lengthy when essential infrastructure such as transformers or high-voltage breaker components are damaged, as these components can take weeks to replace.

Businesses, mines, and entire communities suffer from these outages, with many forced to rely on costly backup generators. This drives up operational expenses that ultimately affect both organizations and their customers.

Outlook: Community Vigilance Critical

Despite improved collaboration with law enforcement and enhanced security measures yielding some results, Eskom maintains that the current situation remains unacceptable. The utility is calling for increased community involvement in protecting electrical infrastructure.

"We urge communities to play a role in safeguarding the infrastructure that delivers electricity to their homes and businesses," said Bala. "Reliable electricity is essential for daily life—preserving food, cooking, heating, lighting, and enabling children to study after dark. Protecting this infrastructure is a shared responsibility."

With winter approaching, when electricity demand typically increases, maintaining the integrity of the distribution network becomes even more critical to prevent localized outages that might compound national supply challenges.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

Eskom encourages South Africans to report any vandalism or suspicious behavior by:

• Calling Eskom at 0800 11 27 22
• Sending an SMS to 31090
• Contacting local municipalities

Key Terms Explained

Loadshedding: The scheduled disconnection of electricity to parts of the network when demand exceeds supply, preventing a total system collapse. South Africa has been experiencing various stages of loadshedding since 2007.

Flashovers: An unintended electrical discharge that occurs when a foreign object creates a connection between power lines or between a power line and ground, causing a short circuit and potentially tripping the power line.

Mini-substations: Smaller electrical substations that transform high voltage electricity to lower voltage suitable for distribution to homes and businesses. These are common targets for vandalism due to valuable components.

Transformers: Devices that transfer electrical energy between two or more circuits, changing voltage levels. The oil in transformers serves as insulation and coolant; when stolen, transformers can overheat and explode.