Cable thieves leave villages in the dark, cost BPC millions

 

Theft of electricity cables has thrown several Dinokeng villages into darkness, with frustrated residents warning that they will take the law into their own hands if the culprits are caught.

Over the weekend, Sikwane and Mabalane villages near the border with South Africa were hit by a spate of cable thefts, leaving at least 10 homes without power.

The thieves set fire to the cables after stealing them, burning off the insulation, and then cooling the wires with water before stripping and selling the copper to scrapyards.

Residents say the darkness has disrupted their lives and livelihoods. One woman who runs a small poultry business told The Midweek Sun that she suffered losses after her freezer went off.

“I had chickens in the freezer that were for sale. When the power went off, everything was at risk of spoiling, so I had to sell them at half price. I am heartbroken. We are tired of this nonsense. If we catch them, we will **** them. We cannot live like this anymore,” she said.

Other villagers said they have resorted to sleeping early since the incident, as their homes remain pitch dark.

“We reported to the police and were told to take the police report to Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for reconnection, but we do not know how long that will take,” another resident said.

Mmathubudukwane Police Station Commander, Superintendent Mmoloki Mogale, confirmed that at least 10 homes were affected by copper cable theft in Sikwane and Mabalane between Friday and

Sunday.

“The thieves are targeting copper cables because they are easy to sell. In some cases, they are spotted before completing their mission but manage to flee when patrol vans approach. We are doing everything possible to arrest them,” Mogale said.

He also revealed that two shops were broken into during the same period, and no arrests have been made yet.

Across the country, copper theft has become a growing menace that continues to drain millions from the public purse.

Responding to questions in Parliament, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Kenewendo, said BPC recorded 11,491 incidents of infrastructure vandalism between 2021 and 2025, mostly targeting copper cables.

She said the crimes have cost BPC an estimated P88.2 million over the five years. Kenewendo said the most affected material is the Airdac service cable, used for low-voltage connections and easily removed due to its installation height.

To combat the thefts, the Ministry and BPC are introducing tamper-resistant cables, enhancing surveillance, tightening laws around scrap metal sales, and working with law enforcement agencies to arrest culprits.

She had previously hinted that a cabinet memorandum is also being finalised to temporarily ban the trade of scrap copper while reviewing existing legislation to introduce tougher penalties for offenders.