A joint operation to curb tampering with essential infrastructure took place in Brakpan last Thursday and saw 10 local scrap yards visited by Brakpan SAPS, the EMPD, Prasa and Bidvest combined private investigators.
According to Brakpan police spokesperson Captain Pearl van Staad, two fines to the value of R2 500 were issued to scrap yards for non-compliance, and another to a scrap dealer.
Two metres of copper cable were also confiscated.
“Pamphlets about cable differentiation were distributed for awareness,” said van Staad.
She added that these types of operations are performed randomly regularly.
Brakpan SAPS second-hand dealers compliance officer Sergeant Priscilla Kunene reminded all second-hand dealers to abide by the legislation prescribed in the Second-Hand Goods Act and to ensure they comply at all times.
• The Essential Infrastructure Task Team deals with cable theft and infrastructure-related cases.
Members of the public are urged to immediately report any infrastructure-related crimes, such as digging up cables or tampering with electrical boxes, to 082 778 8529, 016 450 2666, 016 450 2537 or 016 450 2572.
The team is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
