Recycling body condemns purchasing of stolen goods
"In some jurisdictions, SAPS have mandated that certified dealers or recyclers may not purchase certain products, such as burnt copper wire. If an MRA member guilty of such misconduct would face disciplinary action that will most likely result in termination of membership," said Wilson.
THE Metal Recyclers Association (MRA) is a SAPS accredited association comprising 77 formally registered members, and operates 150 SAPS certified metal recycling facilities around the country.
Mike Wilson, the vice-chairman of the association, who provided some insight into the legalities and repercussions involved should a scrap metal dealer get caught buying stolen goods.
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“The registered members, in our estimate, are responsible for collecting and recycling approximately 80% of South Africa’s more than three million tons of scrap metal per annum,” he said.
Wilson said SAPS records reflect there are in excess of 3 000 scrap metal dealers in the South Africa, although it is not known whether this figure has been recently verified.
“The trading of scrap metal in SA is highly regulated by the Second Hand Goods Act of 2009 MRA SHG act however the effectiveness of this legislation is obviously reliant upon the quality of those responsible for policing and prosecution,” said the vice-chairman.
According to Wilson, the typical protocol for vat registered traders is for the seller to invoice the scrap metal dealer/recycler. “The recycler or dealer then pays for the goods in question via EFT, transferring ownership from one party to another,” he added.
When it came to private individuals selling scrap metal for cash, this requires the buyer to retain a copy of the seller’s identity document and to assess whether the goods in question are legitimate, a fairly simple task according to Wilson for any well-intending person with the relevant experience.
He said in both cases, all non ferrous scrap such as copper and aluminium as well as a number of other identifiable items manufactured from iron /steel, are classified as ‘controlled metals’ in terms of the act.
“Consequently, the shape and form of these products must be retained in the original form for a period of seven days from acquisition, to allow the authorities and other parties to identify any products which may have been stolen from them,” said Wilson.
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