Tool Theft on South African Sites: What It Really Costs

The silent margin killer

Contractors across Gauteng and the Western Cape report losing between 2% and 5% of project value to missing tools, consumables and copper.

Where the losses happen

• Hand tools that never return from a subcontractor bakkie
• Power tools "borrowed" over long weekends
• Consumables written off as breakage

What to do

1. Issue every tool against a named person and a signature.
2. Photograph condition at hand-over and hand-back.
3. Reconcile the register weekly, not at practical completion.

Sites that run a signed custody register typically recover the cost of the system within one quarter.