Johannesburg – A suspected cable thief was found dead inside a medium-voltage electrical chamber in Booysens Reserve.
City Power said the body was found on Thursday morning, 22 October 2026.
A cable-cutting tool was found next to the body of the suspected cable thief, locally referred to as “Izinyoka”.
City Power said it was “deeply concerned” by yet another fatal electrocution linked to attempted cable theft.
Following the incident, City Power said it isolated the electrical infrastructure as a safety precaution earlier in the morning, interrupting electricity supply to nine load centres in Booysens Reserve.
Power has since been restored to all affected customers as of this afternoon after the South African Police Service (SAPS) completed its investigation and cleared the scene for City Power teams to carry out the necessary restoration.
“The incident highlights the life-threatening dangers of tampering with electrical infrastructure, as similar incidents continue to result in fatalities, serious injuries and widespread power disruptions across Johannesburg,” City Power said in a statement made available to The Bulruhes.
“The latest fatality was reported at an electrical chamber near the corner of Mentz Street and Booysens Reserve.
“At approximately 09:20, City Power personnel responded to reports from members of the public about an unresponsive man inside the facility.
“Upon arrival, personnel discovered that the chamber’s main access door had been forcibly opened, with visible damage to the locking mechanisms.
“The deceased was found lying inside the chamber with a cable-cutting tool in his possession.”
City Power said preliminary investigations revealed signs of tampering with electrical equipment, including a severed neutral conductor, damaged lighting and disturbed electrical cables.
This fatality adds to a growing number of dangerous incidents involving individuals attempting to steal or vandalise electrical infrastructure.
In September 2026, a suspected cable thief sustained severe burns during an attempted theft inside underground tunnels supplying Central Substation; he is currently in a critical condition in hospital following the incident.
Earlier, on 26 February 2026, another suspect was fatally electrocuted while allegedly attempting to cut a medium-voltage cable at Manufacta Substation in Roodepoort.
The incident disrupted electricity supply to several communities, including Roodepoort West, Lindhaven, Witpoortjie, Manufacta, Reefhaven and Westgate.
In another incident on 1 May 2026, a suspect was found trapped inside a mini substation in Fleurhof, Roodepoort, while allegedly attempting to vandalise electrical infrastructure.
The individual was safely removed and arrested, while electricity supply had to be temporarily interrupted to facilitate the rescue operation.
At the time, City Power had recorded three incidents of mini substation vandalism in Fleurhof during April alone.
These recurring incidents demonstrate the severe risks associated with unlawful interference with electricity infrastructure.
Electrical chambers, substations and underground cable networks carry dangerously high voltages, and contact with live equipment can cause severe burns, permanent injuries or instant death.
Such incidents also expose surrounding communities and emergency personnel to significant safety risks, while leaving households and businesses without essential electricity services.
“City Power strongly condemns the continued theft and vandalism of its infrastructure and warns that no cable or electrical equipment is worth a human life,” the statement said.
“The entity appeals to communities to work with law enforcement agencies to protect critical infrastructure and prevent further loss of life.
“Residents are urged to immediately report any suspicious or unusual activity near substations or other essential infrastructure.
“This includes unauthorised access to restricted areas, individuals tampering with electrical equipment, open or damaged access points, or people carrying cables or cutting tools in these environments.”
Suspicious activities can be reported to City Power’s Security Risk Management Control Room on 011 490 7900 / 7911 / 7553 or via WhatsApp 083 579 4497.
City Power apologised to customers affected by the outage in Booysens Reserve and will communicate further updates on electricity restoration once the scene has been released and the necessary technical assessments have been completed.
The post ‘Izinyoka’ Tragedy: ‘Cable Thief’ Found Dead Inside Medium-Voltage Electrical Chamber appeared first on The Bulrushes.
