https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Cabinet approves public consultations on illegal scrap metal restrictions

An image showing recovered scrap metals

Recovered scrap metals

9th June 2022

By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Deputy Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

Cabinet has approved that public consultations be undertaken on proposals to restrict the trade of illegally obtained scrap and processed metals.

This decision was made during a Cabinet meeting on June 8.

In a statement post the meeting, it was noted that the theft of scrap metal and copper cable from public infrastructure hinders the performance of the economy by imposing enormous costs.

Some of the disruptions highlighted include the supply of energy and rail services owing to vandalised rail tracks. This was said to impose additional transport costs on commuters owing to disrupted commuter transport.

Vandalised and unsecured electricity cables were also said to pose a safety risk to communities, especially children.

Cabinet directed that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition lead the consultations over a limited period and solicit inputs from the public and relevant sectors on effective measures that government can implement to stop vandalism of critical economic infrastructures.

Thereafter, Cabinet will pronounce on the approved measures.

Earlier this month, Engineering News reported that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula had said during his Budget Vote speech that public transport infrastructure was in “a major state of disrepair” owing to theft and vandalism having crippled the Department of Transport’s rail recovery interventions.

“It is for that reason we call this kind of criminality economic sabotage, which must attract the harshest penalty permissible by law.

“We have equally called for the ban of scrap metal exports, which provide a perverse incentive for this criminality. We remain ready to work with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to ensure that such a ban becomes a reality,” Mbalula said.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Online Managing Editor

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Industrial Nozzles & Systems (Pty) Ltd
Industrial Nozzles & Systems (Pty) Ltd

Industrial Nozzles & Systems (Pty) Ltd (Est. 2000) exclusive representative in Southern Africa for LECHLER GmbH (Est. 1879) - Europe's leading...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
ATI Systems
ATI Systems

ATI systems comprises five divisions: electrical assemblies, drives and controls, feedback sensors, enclosures, and strip guiding.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.053 1.119s - 150pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now