Police seized copper worth R12.6 million in Johannesburg’s City Deep area on 18 June 2026 after a cross-border smuggling operation involving hijacked trucks from Zambia. Image: Supplied
Police seized copper worth R12.6 million in Johannesburg this week. The copper seized Johannesburg operation took place in the City Deep area on Wednesday 18 June 2026. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary team including SAPS Crime Intelligence, Interpol and Border Police carried out the intelligence-driven raid. As a result, the bust deals a major blow to a transnational smuggling syndicate believed to operate between Zambia and South Africa.
Copper Seized Johannesburg: How the Operation Unfolded
The operation began after Zambian authorities tipped off South African police about three hijacked trucks transporting copper blocks. Investigators traced the trucks and followed up in City Deep, Johannesburg. There they recovered 26 bundles of copper worth an estimated R12,680,000. Furthermore, two of the trucks had allegedly entered South Africa through the Beitbridge border post using fraudulent customs documents.
Police spokesperson Vincent Mukhathi confirmed the trucks carried about 121 tonnes of copper in total. Furthermore, investigators discovered the trucks displayed false Tanzanian registration plates to disguise their origin. One truck was later recovered in Zambia. Investigators found it carrying registration numbers belonging to a South African logistics company. Therefore, the syndicate appears to have used fraudulent documentation and false plates across multiple countries to move the stolen copper.
Intelligence also revealed that someone had filed off the original serial numbers on the copper. This was an apparent attempt to hide where the metal came from. As a result, investigators believe the operation involved careful planning rather than opportunistic theft.
No Arrests Yet
No arrests have been made at this stage. However, investigations are continuing. Furthermore, the multidisciplinary team includes private security partners alongside SAPS Crime Intelligence, Interpol and Border Police. This combination reflects the cross-border and highly organised nature of the alleged crime.
South Africa’s Copper Theft Crisis
The Johannesburg seizure is the latest chapter in a copper theft crisis costing South Africa billions of rands every year. Eskom alone loses between R5 billion and R7 billion annually to copper theft. Furthermore, replacing stolen cables costs Eskom an additional R2 billion each year, not counting the cost of power disruptions to customers.
Transnet reported 1,121 kilometres of cable stolen in a single financial year, roughly the distance from Johannesburg to Harare. That figure represents an eightfold increase over five years. Furthermore, City Power in Johannesburg reported 2,000 cable theft incidents in one financial year alone, costing R380 million to repair. eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal lost approximately R120 million to copper cable theft in the same period.
Copper theft also disrupts critical services. Hospitals in Gauteng, the Free State and the Eastern Cape have experienced critical disruptions to operating theatres and intensive care units due to copper theft. Furthermore, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis previously described copper theft as a monumental problem costing the city R2 million a week just to repair street lights. As a result, the Johannesburg seizure represents a small but meaningful disruption to a crisis that touches every part of South African infrastructure.
What Happens Next
Investigations into the syndicate behind the seized copper are continuing. Police are working to establish the full extent of the network and identify those responsible for the alleged hijackings and smuggling. Furthermore, cooperation between South African and Zambian authorities remains central to the investigation given the cross-border nature of the operation.
Anyone with information about copper theft or smuggling syndicates is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously through the MySAPS App.
For more information on SAPS operations visit saps.gov.za.
Editors Note No arrests have been made in connection with this matter at the time of publication. All allegations referenced in this article are unproven and will be tested in court. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.