Centlec senior security investigator Simi Mabilo said stolen cables are often sold to scrapmetal dealers. People vandalise substations and other infrastructure to obtain cables for financial gain.

“We are working together with electricians. We go to scrapmetal yards and other places where there are illegal connections. If we find an illegal connection, we fine the owner or the employer, depending on whether it is a house or a business.”

According to Mabilo a Centlec electrician will identify whether recovered cables belong to the utility. If the cables are suspected to be stolen, police can open a case. He also raised concerns about scrap yards accepting these cables.

Parkweg Visible Policing Commander Col. Andiswa Happiness Myeki said compliance inspections are done as part of Operation Basadi. “We are at a scrap yard; there is copper that has been verified. There is Centlec on site, a second group of officials as well as crime prevention.” Police are checking compliance at scrap yards and recyclers. Other officials check for illegal connections to the electricity network.

A multidisciplinary operation was taking place as other teams were conducting roadblocks and community crime-prevention activities. “Today (25/8) is mainly about compliance in the city in terms of second-hand goods and electronics. We are also going to the shops because we are dealing with the trading of cell phones, laptops and other electronic items that can be repaired or sold.

“If you buy second hand goods from an individual, it’s an obligation of the outlet to take details of the seller … the ID as well as the address, so that if non-compliance is found in your scrap yard you can account who sold these items to you.” A R5,000 fine was issued to a scrap yard for failing to comply with required record-keeping regulations.

Upon police inspection, the scrap yard must produce the proof of residence of the person who sold them the item and the slip. All those documents must be attached, she added. These records are important because they can help police trace stolen goods back to the source.

“This is key to us, because if that is not dealt with and we find stolen property, we cannot link it to the individual who actually sold it, who could then lead us to where it was stolen.”

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa sm

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