Power out after cable theft? How to report it and why repairs take longer

If your power is off because cables were stolen or a transformer was vandalised, you can report it to Eskom's toll-free crime line on 0800 11 27 22, by SMS to 31090, or by email to [email protected] (Eskom). Repairs usually take longer than a normal fault because damaged equipment has to be replaced, not just switched back on.

What happened in northern Gauteng?

Residents of Kalkheuvel, Riverside and Vlakfontein lost power at about 23:00 on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, after power lines were cut and a transformer was thrown down a hill and stripped of its copper, MyBroadband reported. Supply came back roughly 15 hours later, once technicians had replaced the damaged equipment.

It is far from the only case. City Power in Johannesburg says its central substation in Marshalltown is "under siege", and spokesperson Isaac Mangena told MyBroadband that thieves have even used sewer manholes to reach high-value cables (MyBroadband).

Why does a cable theft outage last so long?

Eskom says restoration "can be prolonged" when transformers or high-voltage breaker parts are damaged, because these items can take weeks to replace (Eskom). A tripped breaker can be reset in minutes. A transformer with its copper ripped out has to be swapped for a new one.

Overloading from illegal connections causes a similar problem. Eskom says it can make transformers or mini-substations overheat or explode, leaving whole areas without power for days (Eskom).

How do you report cable theft or vandalism?

Sources: Eskom, Eskom Distribution.

If your municipality supplies your electricity (for example City Power in Johannesburg), log the outage with the municipality rather than Eskom. Eskom also says theft and vandalism can be reported to the municipality or SAPS (Eskom).

What should you do if you see damaged cables or a broken transformer?

Stay away from it. Eskom's advice is to move away, warn others and report it, and not to touch or remove a fallen wire, open electrical box or vandalised transformer (Eskom). Cut or exposed cables may still be live.

If you see people working on cables or a substation and you are unsure whether they are genuine contractors, report it to the crime line or police instead of confronting them.

How much does this cost?

Eskom said theft and vandalism of its infrastructure cost about R221 million between 1 April 2024 and the end of February 2025, down from R271 million in the same period a year earlier (Eskom). Municipal utilities carry their own repair bills on top of that (MyBroadband).