The cable thieves have struck again.
After Hermanus Times reported how cable theft left people in the dark (“In the dark”, 21 February 2024), residents of Pearly Beach once again were left without electricity after thugs stole electricity cables.
“Thugs once again vandalised and stole the Pearly Beach electricity cable in the early hours of 23 February,” said Dean O’Neill, Municipal Manager of Overstrand Municipality.
“Approximately 60 m of the copper cable was stolen, with an estimated damage of R66 000.”
According to O’Neill vandalism and theft are a crime and ultimately cost ratepayers money. Vandalism also results in communities being deprived of services.
A Hermanus Times reader mentioned that the problem is the persons or the chop shops purchasing the stolen material.
In November 2022 the government imposed a six-month ban on the export of scrap and waste metal as well as most ferrous scrap as part of the first phase of a three-phase intervention designed to combat the rampant theft of metals used in public infrastructure.
During Phase 2, a licensing system will be put in place for all copper trading in South Africa and sellers of copper waste and scrap metal will need to register under the Second-Hand Goods Act (SHGA), once amended to cater for the policy change.
During Phase 3 the government will consider amendments to existing legislation, or the passing of new legislation, to create a dedicated metal trading licensing regime. This means intended sellers of copper waste and scrap metal must also be registered.
Applicants will have to show relevant tax clearance and must submit purchase and sales information on a centralised database to be able to trade. This export ban was initially introduced for six months but the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition extended this ban for another six months at the end of July 2023 and it is now proposed to extend it for another six months.
According to O’Neill the municipality continues to report vandalism incidents to the police and dockets are opened for investigation.
“The public is requested to report people tampering with or stealing electrical cables to the police and Overstrand Municipality on 028 313 8111 or 028 312 2400 as soon as you see it happening,” he said. “Residents can also report theft via the Municipal Collaborator Citizen App under the Theft/Vandalism button. The Anti-fraud toll-free number is 0860 044 044.”
