Two police offices arrested for copper theft

Recovered stolen copper cable / Image: TheSouthAfrican

FF Plus want ‘cable theft’ to carry longer sentences than murder – but why?

Not even 25-to-life would be enough for the FF Plus, who are adamant that those involved in cable theft must be given drastically-tough jail terms.

Two police offices arrested for copper theft

Recovered stolen copper cable / Image: TheSouthAfrican

You can’t fault the passion, but the FF Plus might have a hard time convincing the public about their latest stance on crime and punishment. The fifth-largest political party in South Africa has been enraged by a spate of cable theft incidents across Gauteng, leading to prolonged power outages and water pollution.

Why do the FF Plus want harsh sentences for cable theft?

Kobus Hoffman is an MPL for the party in the province. He has made several oversight visits to the Emfuleni region in the last week or so, and he’s been left dismayed by the impact this increasingly popular crime can have. According to the politician, cable theft is also heaping financial pressure on the local municipality.

Electricity shortages, the inability to treat sewage water, and serious environmental problems have been linked to the opportunists who are digging up the large cables, to sell them on for profit – and Hoffman has had enough:

“Since the Criminal Procedure Act was amended in 2015 to define certain actions as statutory crimes, cable theft is much more serious than common law theft. Individuals who are found guilty of cable theft could be sentenced to a minimum of 30 years’ imprisonment. Affected areas are plagued by extensive power outages and water shortages.”

“Scrapyard dealers and second-hand goods dealers who are charged with being in possession of stolen infrastructure must receive a fine of at least R100 million. The only way to put an end to this type of crime is to enforce the maximum penalty on the perpetrators and send the message that it will not be tolerated.” | Kobus Hoffman

‘Less time for murder’, as the current law stands

The imposition of a 30-year jail sentence for cable theft would, as the FF Plus say, act as a strict deterrent. But it would also exceed the maximum sentences for rape, human trafficking, and even a large number of murder cases:

Length of time in prisonCrimes
5 to 10 years– First time offences in breaking and entering
– A whole host of petty, non-life-threatening crimes
10 to 15 years– Smuggling firearms or explosives
– Multiple offences of breaking and entering
15 to 25 years– First time offences in fraud, drug dealing, or rape
25 years (life sentence)– Murder with/without aggravating circumstances
– Aggravated or compelled rape cases
– Human trafficking
More than 25 years– Murder with no supporting evidence for parole
– The FF Plus’ proposed cable theft policy