Two men sentenced to 10 years for illegal electricity connections and copper theft in Gauteng
Two men were sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegal electricity connections and copper cable theft.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The Booysens Magistrate’s Court has handed down two separate 10-year sentences to David Nxumalo, 40, and Bruce Maurice, 45, for tampering with essential infrastructure in incidents involving illegal electricity connections and copper cable theft.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane said Nxumalo was sentenced after he was found guilty of illegally connecting electricity from a City Power pillar box to nearby flats at Booysens Reserve.
He was apprehended on November 4, 2024, by a security guard and detained at the Booysens police station.
In a separate case, Bruce Maurice was caught on September 4, 2024 in Rosettenville for stealing copper cable.
Police responded to a report of suspicious activity and found Maurice pulling a dustbin
"Inside the dustbin, the police recovered about five meters of stolen copper cable. Further investigation led the police to a nearby Telkom main hole with an opened lid," Tshetlhane said
"The Telkom technician was then contacted and confirmed that the stolen cable was cut off from the main hole."
Maurice was arrested, and on May 12, 2025, he too was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
"The sentence given to the two accused should serve as a deterrent to those who intend to tamper with any form of essential infrastructure," said Johannesburg District Commissioner Major General Nonhlanhla Kubheka.
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