Gabs councillors push for harsher penalties on copper-cable theft
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday July 2, 2025 06:09
The motion, introduced by Specially Nominated councillor and chairperson of the Works Committee, Tunah Moalosi, calls for a minimum fine of P50,000 for individuals convicted of copper-cable theft.
Furthermore, it recommends that scrapyards and businesses found in possession of stolen copper be subjected to a minimum fine of P100,000, with immediate closure upon a second offence.
With that regard, Moalosi said in a criminal case of theft the compensation of the organisation loss should be taken into consideration where the accused person pays damages equal to the loss.
The councilor added there should be an introduction of mandatory imprisonment in addition to fines.
Whilst on vehicles and equipment used in these crimes, she said they should be taken and released only upon full payment of penalties.
She, however, called upon central government to urgently amend the law and impose tougher measures to protect national and council infrastructure.
These measures, she said, are crucial to addressing the ongoing economic and infrastructural damage caused by such thefts.
Currently, according to Moalosi’s briefing to the council, no specific fines are prescribed for cable theft, which is merely treated as a general offence under Penal Code sections 264 and 271.
She noted that offenders often receive lenient punishments, such as multiple warnings or a maximum sentence of only three years, penalties that do not reflect the severity of the crime.
'As chair of the Works Committee, I am deeply troubled by the growing darkness enveloping our city. Gaborone is grappling with non-functional streetlights largely due to the rampant theft of copper cables,' she said.
'This is not merely vandalism, it is economic sabotage.'
When supporting her facts, Moalosi revealed that within the GCC area alone, approximately 150 streetlights are non-operational, directly resulting from cable theft, which has led to financial losses estimated at P9 million.
Additionally, she said that Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) suffered losses exceeding P56 million from a single incident of copper-cable theft.
She said the most affected include Botswana Power Corporation, BTC, and GCC.
However, she said local authorities, including GCC, have also lost millions of pula in infrastructure damage, replacements, and labour.
'I rise to move that the central government urgently amends the laws of Botswana to increase fines and penalties related to the theft of copper cables, which continues to cripple public service delivery and infrastructure,' she said.
'This situation threatens public safety, disrupts electricity and communication services, and leaves key areas of the city in complete darkness and electrical poles unsafe for kids.'