Scrap metal ‘collectors’ an issue for muni
People who vandalise municipal property for items which can be sold for scrap cause more damage than they realise
POLOKWANE –Â This is the outcry from several residents and the Polokwane Municipality.
A local home owner, Hannes Grobelaar, says he has been the victim of these collectors due to several small thefts at his property where items are taken from rooms he leases for a second income.
“The rooms are not always booked and this leads to break-ins where the wiring and any form of copper or brass is stolen to be sold for scrap metal. This is a big inconvenience and it is expensive to replace the things stolen for scrap metal,” he says.
Polokwane Municipality spokesperson, Matshidiso Mothapo, says in many cases these “collectors” help themselves to metal that is still in use, and thus still municipal property.
According to the municipality, storm water drains are another target for these collectors.
“Where the concrete slabs have caved in due to a vehicle accident, or other reasons, the metal frame is exposed. These metal frames are then removed and sold for scrap metal. To replace these frames is expensive and highly time consuming,” says Mothapo.
He adds that besides from the storm water drains being vandalised, the municipality has received several complaints of electrical wiring that has been left exposed as the metal plating cover has been removed.
Mpho Bologo, a local scrap metal dealer, says over the past several weeks, the demand for scrap metal has greatly increased leading to the prices of metals rising.
“As a scrap metal dealer, I work closely with law enforcement to make sure that stolen items do not enter the yard. We make a point of not buying anything from someone without a form of Identification Documentation.
“This not only helps with record keeping should something happen, but helps keep people who want to sell illegal items away,” he explains.
Anyone with information about stolen municipal property can contact (015) 290 2000. Mothapo said that people found vandalising municipal property can be fined as much as R1 000.
