West Rand SAPS officers who conducted the intelligence-driven operation on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. Image: SAPS
Two Pakistani nationals arrested in the West Rand after police discovered stolen copper cable worth R800 000 loaded in the back of their vehicles. The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. SAPS West Rand Crime Intelligence led the operation. They worked alongside the West Rand Flying Squad, the West Rand District Crime Prevention Unit, and private security companies.
Police received information that two vehicles were transporting copper cable from the North West Province towards Krugersdorp. Officers acted on the tip and deployed units to intercept the bakkies. The two vehicles were spotted and stopped on the R24 towards Krugersdorp. Police searched both vehicles and found a large quantity of copper cable in the back. The estimated value of the recovered property is R800 000.
Furthermore, police arrested the two Pakistani nationals at the scene. Officers opened a case of possession of suspected stolen property against both suspects. They are expected to appear in court soon. Investigations are ongoing.
Pakistani Nationals Arrested West Rand as Copper Theft Costs South Africa Billions
Copper theft ranks among the most damaging forms of organised crime in South Africa. The country loses an estimated R47 billion each year to infrastructure theft and vandalism. Copper cable theft accounts for a significant portion of those losses. Eskom, Transnet, and municipal water and electricity networks all bear the brunt of repeated attacks.
In addition, the consequences extend far beyond financial loss. Thieves who strip copper cables from substations can cut power to entire communities for days. Transnet records hundreds of cable theft incidents each year. Each incident halts freight rail operations and costs the economy millions in delayed goods. Hospitals, schools, and emergency services all suffer when copper theft knocks out critical infrastructure.
Moreover, water infrastructure has increasingly become a target. Thieves remove copper components from pump stations and water treatment facilities. The result is burst pipes going undetected, water supply interruptions, and costly repairs. Many municipalities cannot afford to replace stolen components quickly. In several townships, residents go without water for weeks as a result.
The cross-provincial nature of Tuesday’s operation points to organised criminal networks. The suspects allegedly transported the cable from the North West Province into Gauteng for sale to buyers. Consequently, operations like this one require coordination between multiple police units, intelligence structures, and private security. That coordination reflects how sophisticated copper theft syndicates have become.
The West Rand bust is one of several recent operations targeting copper theft networks in Gauteng. South Africa remains one of the worst-affected countries in the world for infrastructure theft. The economic damage compounds year after year as ageing infrastructure becomes increasingly expensive to replace.