Cable theft has become a relentless scourge across the Overberg, leaving communities in the dark for weeks on end, costing millions in damages and pushing municipal infrastructure to breaking point. From Botrivier to Hermanus, Voëlklip to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the pattern is the same: thieves strip cables and overhead lines with alarming precision, residents pay the price and the cycle repeats – often in the very same streets.
“They know exactly what they are doing”
Ward 7 Councillor Mieke Plato-Mentoor, has confirmed the devastating impact on her Botrivier constituents. Residents in affected areas have been without electricity for more than a month as a direct result of cable theft.
“These cable thieves know what they are doing,” Plato-Mentoor said. “They target the same houses and the same street lights, returning to areas they have already hit.”
Her account points to a deeply troubling reality: the theft is not random or opportunistic. It is targeted, systematic and carried out by individuals who understand the electrical network well enough to repeatedly exploit the same vulnerable points.
A year of relentless attacks
The crisis in Botrivier is part of a far wider pattern that has gripped the Overberg throughout 2026. Between May and June alone, the Overstrand Municipality recorded at least 16 separate incidents of cable theft, vandalism and storm-related damage across areas including Fisherhaven, Hawston and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
January 2026 – Stanford graveyard arrests
On 12 January, a member of the public spotted smoke near the Stanford graveyard and investigated. A 23-year-old woman was found burning cables to extract copper. She was arrested under the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (Act 101 of 1998) and based on information she provided, two men aged 15 and 20 were also arrested.
May 2026 – Sabotage and mass theft
On 15 May, Vermont and Onrus were plunged into darkness after a power pole was cut near the road before Hawston in what the municipality described as alleged sabotage. Less than two weeks later, on 28 May, approximately 2 km of power lines were stolen overnight in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, delaying restoration of the Hermanus F1 feeder line. Two suspects were arrested in connection with that incident.
June 2026 – Hawston and Onrus hit again
On 3 June, theft occurred on Eskom’s Maple Feeder near a new storage facility outside Hawston, compounding earlier outages on Chapel Street. On 23 June, copper conductors were stolen from Eskom infrastructure in Onrus, affecting residents in Bosplasie.
July 2026 – Onrus River and beyond
The theft of two spans of conductor disrupted supply to Onrus and Onrus River, with further impacts reported in Fisherhaven and Vermont.
September 2026 – Voëlklip and a Hermanus arrest
On 9 September, overhead electrical lines were stolen in Voëlklip, leaving parts of the suburb without power. Just four days later, on Sunday 13 September, members of the Overstrand Municipality’s Task Team conducting routine patrols in Hermanus noticed three individuals on bicycles behaving suspiciously. When officers approached, the suspects fled and allegedly discarded a bag. One suspect was arrested; the other two escaped. The bicycles and a bag containing suspected stolen cable were handed to the Hermanus Police Station for further investigation.
Millions Lost, Communities Left in the Dark
The financial toll is staggering. According to the acting municipal manager of Overstrand Municipality, Edward Jantjies, as of mid-2026, material losses to Eskom infrastructure were estimated at approximately R1,43 million, with additional municipal losses in Hawston estimated at R1,2 million.
“When restoration costs, labour, equipment hire and transport are factored in, the total financial impact is projected to exceed R6 million,” he said. “Despite the Overstrand Municipality allocating R65,1 million to its electricity capital budget for the 2026-’27 financial year – with R20,1 million specifically earmarked for upgrading and replacing infrastructure – the relentless theft threatens to outpace investment.
Municipal response and public appeal
“The Overstrand Municipality maintains a standing Council policy offering a reward of up to R5 000 for information leading to the successful prosecution of individuals who willfully damage or steal critical municipal infrastructure,” Jantjies said. “Perpetrators face serious criminal consequences, including fines and up to 10 years of imprisonment.”
The municipality urges residents to report any suspicious activity involving the theft, tampering with, or vandalism of electrical infrastructure through the following channels: Collab Citizen AppContact Centre: 028 313 8111Law Enforcement: 028 313 8996
