BPC losses P88.2 million in copper cable theft
Larona Makhaiza | Wednesday August 6, 2025 12:24
Answering a question in Parliament on behalf of Minister for Minerals and Energy Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister for Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi stated that government has for for the longest time been battling with surging cases of copper theft targeting BPC.
Mmolotsi was responding to a question by Member of Parliament (MP) for Kgatleng Central Mpho Morolong who had probed estimated annual financial loss caused by copper cables theft at BPC.
The legislator further enquired what measures has the government put in place to tackle the mushrooming challenge that is spiraling out of control recently.
In his response, Mmolotsi said it is indeed true that government has been deeply affected by the copper cable theft losing millions in five years time.
“Between 2021 and 2025, BPC recorded a total of 11 491 incidents of infrastructure vandalism, primarily targeting copper cables. These incidents occurred across BPC’s national infrastructure and have cost the corporation approximately P88.2 million over the five year period,” Mmolotsi revealed staggering numbers.
Breaking down the P88.2 million, Mmolotsi revealed that in 2021 BPC lost P9.8 million over 1 070 incidents while in 2022 the corporation incurred P6.4 million loss across 649 incidents.
In the year 2023, BPC suffered a loss of P34 million in 4 467 incidents whereas in 2024 the institution lost P24 million over 2 695-theft cases.
The minister indicated that the challenge still gives them sleepless nights as in 2025 alone, BPC have registered 2 610 incidents which amount to P14 million.
Though the issue seems to be spiraling out of control, Mmolotsi stated that government has put out interventions to simmer the growing trend of copper cable theft.
“The objective is to curb rampant cable theft across the country and key interventions include; investment in physical and digital surveillance including private security patrols, evaluation of remote monitoring systems, smart alerts and cable tracking technologies,” he said.
He also said community clusters could also assist.
“Community clusters will help with multi stakeholder forums bringing together regulators, scrap yard operators and local authorities to restrict illicit copper trade and lastly engage with government agencies to tighten laws on scrap metals sales, ensuring that perpetrators face increased penalties,” he said.
Meanwhile Mmolotsi relayed that cabinet memorandum has been prepared to sanction the immediate prohibition of scrap copper trading on the interim.