City Power welcomes 41-year jail terms for four Lesotho nationals

City Power has welcomed the sentencing of four Lesotho nationals to a combined 41 years’ direct imprisonment for crimes targeting electricity infrastructure in Roodepoort.

Three of the accused were sentenced by the Roodepoort Court on 1 September 2026 after being convicted of damaging and stealing essential infrastructure, as well as contravening the Immigration Act.

Each received an effective 13-year prison sentence, bringing their combined sentence to 39 years. They were also ordered to be deported to Lesotho after serving their sentences.

In a separate case finalised on 26 August, another Lesotho national was sentenced to two years’ direct imprisonment for tampering with City Power infrastructure. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and ordered to be deported after serving his sentence.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the sentences sent a strong message to those targeting critical infrastructure.

“Those who target essential electricity infrastructure can and will be held accountable. Infrastructure crime is not a victimless crime because it disrupts electricity supply to residents, businesses, schools and other critical facilities,” Mangena said.

City Power recorded 148 arrests between January and September 2026 for tampering with electrical infrastructure.

The entity recorded 35 convictions in the 2024/25 financial year and 36 in 2025/26. The latest convictions form part of ongoing security operations, including patrols, joint operations with police and raids targeting scrap metal dealers.

Mangena urged residents to report suspicious activity around substations, transformers, switching stations and other electricity infrastructure.

“Every transformer, cable or switching station that is stolen or damaged has consequences for communities,” he said.