/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the announcement that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has now gazetted amendments to strengthen the regulatory framework for the scrap metal industry in South Africa.

These amendments aim to modifying the regulations under the Second-Hand Goods Act to combat metal theft and enhance control over the scrap metal trade.

The proposed key amendments focus on the following five areas:

• Enhanced Registration,
• Enhanced Reporting,
• Inclusion of Semi-Finished Metals,
• Additional Restrictions on Copper, Implementation of a Single Reporting System.

The DA has long been calling for a coordinated approach between stakeholders in the scrap metal industry, government, and law enforcement to combat metal theft and effectively regulate the scrap metal industry.

In May this year vandalism by cable thieves resulted in a fire on the M1 highway near Braamfontein damaging a gas line and threatening the nearby open cycle gas turbine substation valued at R100 million. The operations of City Power and the Gautrain are also continuously disrupted by these criminals.

Cable theft has had a devastating impact on the provincial economy negatively effecting infrastructure across sectors including the transportation, telecommunication and energy industries. Clamping down on this criminal activity is critical for our country’s economic stability and growth.

The Departments of Community Safety and Environment should be putting policies and plans in place to regulate this market and clean up the recycling value chains that tend to include scrap metal.

The DA will closely monitor the implementation of the amendments outlined by the Minister in the gazette.

The implementation of the amended legislation will be vital in the reduction of cable theft and elimination of illicit trade of metals in our province.

The DA remains committed to securing our economic infrastructure while ensuring South Africa’s primary steel industry thrives.

Issued by Michael Sun MPL - DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety