Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has threatened to tighten the law against scrap metal dealers buying stolen Prasa material. It is estimated that the economy is losing billions of rands due to major cable theft. Mbalula classified theft and vandalism of Prasa infrastructure as sabotage to the economy. TLU SA this week expressed the hope that Minister Mbalula will ensure that it is not just stolen Prasa material that comes under scrutiny. “There should be a particular focus on scrap dealers trading in copper and aluminium. Tractors and harvesters’ radiators and wiring harnesses are stripped at a tremendous rate for the copper.
The insulation material of the wiring harnesses is burned away with fire to recover the copper. I have suffered damages worth thousands of Rands due to this,” said Mr Bertus van der Westhuizen, TLU SA Regional Chairman: Free State. Mrs Erika Helm, TLU SA’s Chairperson: Local Government Committee, added that residents of the country have been plagued for years by theft of infrastructure which means billions of rands in losses to businesses.
This is not just a Prasa problem. This is a challenge for every business, including agriculture. In a period where economic growth is a priority, the government should strongly address the trade in stolen goods. “It is also important that the SAPS’ system is carefully checked with the registration of theft cases, especially in the light of cable theft so that the statistics clearly highlight the actual situation. An appeal is also made to the Minister to support the reporting of cases, as in many instances it is hampered by a defective police service to give proper attention where necessary,” TLU SA said.
