JOHANNESBURG — Rail operator Transnet is significantly expanding its security measures and intensifying intelligence-led operations to dismantle the infrastructure crime syndicates responsible for rampant copper cable theft. According to Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager Chief Executive Moshe Motlohi, this strategic, data-driven shift is already yielding measurable results, including a 19 percent reduction in related crimes compared to the previous year.
Copper cables have remained the primary target for criminals due to their ease of removal and transport. However, Motlohi emphasized that the entity is moving beyond traditional “boots on the ground” security and basic technological interventions, such as drones and intrusion detection systems. The new intelligence-led approach is designed to disrupt criminal activities before they occur by targeting the highly organized, multi-layered nature of the theft rings.
“We have observed that people who steal copper are organized,” Motlohi explained, outlining a five-layer criminal pyramid. This structure ranges from ground-level thieves to consolidators, informal furnace operators who melt the stolen copper, and finally, the exporters at the top who generate the market demand. “We need to stop the demand and starve the oxygen at the top of the pyramid by dealing with the syndicates who are really making money.”
To achieve this, Transnet is fostering deep collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the South African Police Service, customs, and government bodies such as the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Community partnerships have also proven vital. Motlohi noted that collaboration with the farming community has been particularly effective, as rural surveillance cameras help track suspicious vehicles, enabling authorities to build strong, conviction-ready cases.
The tangible impact of these combined interventions is evident in recent operational metrics. On the north corridor, where a targeted pilot project was implemented, cable theft plummeted from 160 kilometers in the previous year to just 58 kilometers last year. Consequently, the number of trains cancelled due to criminal disruptions has noticeably decreased. This operational stability has supported broader economic reliability, with freight volumes on a major rail line increasing by 10 percent last year.
Beyond intelligence and policing, Transnet is implementing critical engineering solutions to remove the financial incentive for theft. The rail operator has begun systematically replacing vulnerable copper cables with “tiger wire,” a materially worthless alternative. “Most of our network now has the tiger wire that has been used to replace the copper,” Motlohi noted, adding that there is no longer a financial point for criminals to attempt stealing these assets.
Addressing public skepticism regarding past crackdown announcements, Motlohi pointed to concrete judicial outcomes as proof of the current strategy’s efficacy. Strong, collaboratively built cases have led to successful convictions, with perpetrators recently receiving prison sentences ranging from 13 to 16 years for stealing critical infrastructure. The most recent sentencing occurred just two weeks ago, signaling a sustained and serious legal crackdown.
Looking ahead, Transnet plans to roll out the successful intelligence-led pilot project from the north corridor to other vulnerable rail corridors nationwide. Motlohi stressed that because these criminal syndicates are highly mobile and will shift operations when squeezed in one area, an organized, proactive counter-strategy is essential to keep trains running, protect jobs, and safeguard the economy.
