GQEBERHA – The threat of non-ferrous metals, as well as essential infrastructure related crimes remains the South African Police Service priority. It is therefore crucial that multi-disciplinary disruptive operations are conducted to combat and address ferrous and non-ferrous and infrastructure related crimes.

A joint multi-disciplinary non-ferrous metal operation conducted under Operation Vuthu Hawe resulted in the arrest of a 43-year-old Bethelsdorp woman and the confiscation of copper cables worth over R600 000-00.

SAPS Bethelsdorp’s designated Second Hand Goods Officer (DSO) received information of an illegal scrap yard operating in Bloem Road in Bloemendal. The information was operationalised and on Thursday, 09 June 2022 at about 10:15, a team comprising of the Nelson Mandela Bay District’s SAPS Non Ferrous Metal officers, representatives from Transnet, Telkom, Eskom and NMB municipality swooped in on the residential property.

Copper cables with a total weight of 2591kg were found inside and outside the premises. Some of the cables were identified by Transnet as belonging to them. The estimated scrap metal value of the copper is R168 415-00 while the replacement value is estimated to be over R600 000-00.

The owner of the house was arrested and detained in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act and possession of suspected stolen property. She is expected to appear in court soon.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Thandiswa Kupiso commended the team for the excellent execution of the operation.’ Combatting non- ferrous metals and essential infrastructure related crimes must be continuous as these crimes lead to a multitude of economic and socio-economic strains and continue to threaten key industries. The second hand goods environment is seen as a potential market for stolen goods including the sale of non- ferrous metals. Operations such as this will be continuous and those responsible will be harshly dealt with,’ added Brig Kupiso.

Source: South African Police Service