BUSINESS owners and residents in and around Empangeni’s Platina Drive are blaming the recent opening of a new scrapyard for an increase in greenbelt fires and theft of water pipes and other items.
Some people have reported that their water pipes have been ripped off their walls and many drain grids have disappeared.
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The scrap metal pickers have allegedly resorted to starting fires in the greenbelt areas to burn the plastic coverings off cabling and get to the valuable copper inside.
The burning of the plastic coverings causes an acrid smoke that has even been said to bother pupils at nearby Richem High School.
Scrap yards in South Africa are notorious for being linked to the sort of petty theft being experienced by Platina residents and business owners.
They are blamed for attracting scrap metal pickers who search for scrap metal in rubbish dumps or in people’s refuse, for which they receive cash in exchange.
The problem comes in when the scrap metal pickers cannot find a regular source of scrap metal and resort to stealing items including drain grids, pipes, copper cables and other metal items that can be sold for a quick profit.
The City of uMhlathuze fire department said it cannot apprehend suspects causing these fires as it is not under its jurisdiction, and it can only extinguish fires at the scene.
While the majority of the time the suspects flee the scene, these crimes must be reported to both SAPS and the fire department.
At the time of going to print, the scrap dealer in question could not be reached for comment on the numbers provided.
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