RFI‑126/2025/26 – Theft Deterrent Housewire

The **RFI‑126/2025/26 – Theft Deterrent Housewire** is a **Request for Information (RFI)** issued by the **City of Cape Town** seeking detailed information from suppliers, technology providers, and security solution specialists regarding **theft prevention technologies specifically designed for housewire infrastructure**. This RFI is not a request for a direct procurement or contract award. Instead, it is a formal call to the market to gather insights on available solutions, innovations, capabilities, costs, and implementation approaches that could help the City address growing incidents of housewire theft.

### **Background and Context**

Housewire — the electrical cables that connect substations, transformers, poles, and customer connections — is critical infrastructure in municipal electricity networks. In recent years, many regions within South Africa have faced significant challenges with **copper and aluminum cable theft**, affecting both urban and rural distribution systems. Theft of housewire not only results in **costly damage and service disruptions**, but also creates **safety hazards, increased outage frequency, and expensive replacement costs** for municipalities and electricity consumers alike.

The City of Cape Town, responsible for managing its own electricity distribution infrastructure in many areas, has a vested interest in understanding what theft deterrent technologies or systems are available, how they perform in real‑world conditions, and how they might be implemented at scale to protect housewire assets.

### **Purpose of the RFI**

The main purpose of this RFI is to **gather information and market intelligence** on anti‑theft technical solutions that could be applied to housewire systems. The City aims to better understand:

* What technologies exist to **detect, deter, or prevent cable theft**;

* How these technologies can be **integrated into existing electrical infrastructure**;

* What associated **costs, maintenance requirements, and logistical challenges** might be involved;

* What **performance results or case studies** are available from other government entities or utilities that have implemented similar solutions.

This information will help the City determine whether to proceed with a formal procurement process — such as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or tender — for a theft deterrent system.

### **Scope of Information Requested**

Suppliers responding to the RFI are expected to provide detailed information about their solutions, including:

* **Detailed descriptions of technology products** such as sensors, monitoring systems, tamper detection devices, or materials that make housewire less attractive or accessible to thieves;

* **Integration requirements** – how the solution can be deployed within existing electrical networks without service degradation;

* **Installation and maintenance** considerations, including labour, training, and long‑term support provisions;

* **Cost estimates** at various scales (e.g., per kilometre of cable protected, per unit installed, or per zone monitored);

* **Case studies, references, or performance data** from past implementations in similar infrastructure environments;

* **Regulatory and safety compliance** details demonstrating how the solution meets relevant South African safety, electrical, and data privacy standards.

The RFI may also invite respondents to suggest alternative or emerging technologies that could help enhance theft deterrence, such as electronic tagging, real‑time monitoring platforms, advanced materials, or community‑based detection mechanisms.

### **Market Engagement and Response Expectations**

Because this is a market intelligence exercise rather than a tender for contract award, responses to the RFI are not evaluated to select a supplier. Instead, the City of Cape Town will analyse all responses to assess:

* The **breadth of available technologies**;

* **Feasibility and suitability** of different approaches;

* **Cost implications** at various deployment levels;

* Potential **risks and limitations** associated with different solutions.

This analysis will inform whether the City moves forward with a formal procurement process to implement a theft deterrent system.

### **Benefits of Responding**

For vendors, technology developers, and security solution providers, replying to the RFI allows:

* **Early engagement** with a key municipal buyer;

* The opportunity to **shape future procurement specifications**;

* A platform to introduce innovative solutions to a major infrastructure challenge;

* Insights into how municipalities prioritise technology adoption.

Responses should be thorough, well‑structured, and include supporting documentation such as technical datasheets, cost breakdowns, case studies, and implementation frameworks.

### **Conclusion**

The **RFI‑126/2025/26 Theft Deterrent Housewire** initiative reflects the City of Cape Town’s proactive approach to understanding how best to protect critical electrical infrastructure from theft, service disruption, and associated costs. By gathering structured market information, the City can assess technical options, understand financial implications, and develop a data‑driven strategy for potentially implementing an effective theft deterrent programme in the future. Qualified solution providers with relevant technology and experience are encouraged to respond comprehensively to help inform future municipal action on this pressing infrastructure issue.