CAPE TOWN – In targeted operations by law enforcement agencies to address cable theft that is threatening the lives of citizens and crippling the economy of the country, integrated police deployments descended on three scrap metal companies on Tuesday morning in Maitland and arrested two persons for contravention of the Second Goods Acts No 6 of 2009 and possession of suspected stolen property. Large consignments of cable were also seized.

The arrests comprise a 38-year-old manager of a scrap metal company. She was detained on a charge of contravention of section/s of the Second Goods Act by failing to keep scrap metal items bought for seven days.

Another arrest relates to a 26-year-old man from a different metal company for possession of suspected stolen property as well as failure to separate metal bought as prescribed in the Second Goods Act.

A written warning was also issued to a third scrap metal company for failure to mark metal items received, also stipulated in the Act.

The operations are set to continue in concerted efforts to deal with cable theft and sale.

Part of the cable seized, weighing 2.4 tons, from this morning’s operation was positively identified as the property of PRASA.

The integrated deployments that executed the operation comprised different units from SAPS, City of Cape Town’s metro police and law enforcement as well as PRASA officials.

Three weeks ago 10 persons were arrested in a similar operation in Maitland. Western Cape SAPS management has commended the efforts of all parties involved.

Source: South African Police Service