GMM tells scrap metal dealers to stop buying stolen goods
The municipality said theft and vandalism of infrastructure impact negatively on the lives of the communities.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality urged scrap metal dealers to stop buying stolen items because it creates a market for illicit goods at the residents’ expense.
These include electricity cables, manhole covers, steel and other infrastructure equipment that vandals steel and then sell as scrap metal.
This statement was made after a second suspect was arrested in connection with the theft of electrical cables, round shovels, spades, rakes and wheelbarrows from the eMbalenhle Waste Water Treatment Works on September 18.
The municipality said theft and vandalism of infrastructure impact negatively on the lives of the communities.
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Each financial year, the municipality loses millions of rand due to vandalism of infrastructure, including water and electricity. The vandalism of sewerage infrastructure has a negative impact on the sewage pump stations.
In August, security officers surprised five men who were stealing power supply cables in the early morning hours.
The gang fled, but the security personnel arrested one of them.
The municipal spokesperson, Lucky Mhlongo, referred the newspaper to the police for more information. The eMbalenhle police spokesperson, Constable Busi Mthethwa, was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
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