Recyclers in eMbalenhle seek action against those not registered
“We always see unknown vans moving around our community buying recyclable materials, and we suspect these are copper cable thieves. The police must search these vans instead of focusing only on us,” says scrap metal dealer.
Registered scrap metal recyclers want the eMbalenhle SAPS to act harshly against those not registered.
These recyclers said this at a compliance meeting between themselves held in eMbalenhle on November 15.
According to Constable Busi Mthethwa, the eMbalenhle police spokesperson, dealers must comply with the law when buying recyclable materials from the community by not accepting stolen items.
Mthethwa said these businesses are obliged to demand the seller’s ID document and make a copy for tracing purposes.
“The recyclers must ensure a seller is not using someone else’s ID when selling recyclable items. The police need to trace people who sell metal items such as copper cables stolen from businesses, municipality infrastructure or community members’ homes,” said Mthethwa.
Scrap metal dealers at the meeting said the illegal recyclers tarnished their name by buying stolen materials.
“We always see unknown vans moving around our community buying recyclable materials, and we suspect these are copper cable thieves. The police must search these vans instead of focusing only on us.
“We are afraid that one day our community will burn our businesses because of things like copper that goes missing daily. This affects their lives and can lead to them pointing fingers at us,” said one recycler.
Mthethwa said they were unaware of the vans buying scrap directly from households but encouraged recyclers to call the police when they see them.
Those at the meeting voiced concern that the Govan Mbeki Municipality did not send a representative.
