Copper theft in SA amounts to R13.6m – SACCI

SACCI communications officer Tshidi Maotshe said the figure was a drop in the ocean when taking into account the impact on the economy, Kempton Express reported.

“Recent estimates put the loss between R5 and R7 billion a year,” she said. The barometer is based on theft from Eskom, Telkom and Transnet, and it calculates only the cost of replacing the metal.

Maotshe said the copper theft volume indicator increased to 179 metric tonnes in April 2015 from 173 metric tonnes in March 2015.

“This is concerning, considering that replacement of the stolen cables has to take place before essential maintenance. Eskom in particular needs the cash flow to invest in maintenance at power stations,” she said.

Maotshe added the situation was worrying, as South Africa had only two percent of the global copper reserves, but now has the reputation of being the largest exporter of copper to China and India.

“It was not clear whether the upward trend is due to greater demand, an increase in the price during the past months or to more lax implementation and policing of the Second Hand Goods Act, in spite of copper theft being designated a high priority crime.

“South Africa was not the only country that faced this problem. Internationally, copper theft is increasing, and reports are being received from many countries,” said Maotshe.

Director of Law Enforcement at the Institute of Scrap Recycling in Washington, Professor Bradly Mills, said copper theft cost the USA economy more than $1 billion a year.

“Each of the USA states has legislation to combat copper theft, and some even go as far as requiring photographs of vehicles, the items presented and of the sellers,” said Mills.

SACCI has called for the effectiveness of the current legislation to be interrogated.

– Caxton News Service