Copper theft increased again in February, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) said on Wednesday (28 March 2012).<\/p>\n
Sacci’s Copper Theft Barometer was R22.8 million in February — up four percent from January’s R21.9 million, Sacci said in a statement.<\/p>\n
It was R20.9 million in December.<\/p>\n
In 2011, the barometer averaged R17.8 million.<\/p>\n
The barometer — started in December 2010 — is an indicator of the estimated cost of replacing copper cable stolen from major users Transnet, Telkom<\/a>, and Eskom<\/a>.<\/p>\n The chamber expected copper theft levels to be higher this year than in 2011 due to increased international demand for copper.<\/p>\n “According to Xstrata Copper (Australia) global demand for copper will rise by 3.1 percent in 2012, boosted by China’s continued investment in housing and infrastructure that will drive up demand.<\/p>\n “This is significant since China’s demand constitutes 40 percent of global demand,” Sacci said.<\/p>\n However, the current trend of stronger law enforcement could cut out a vital conduit for organised copper-theft syndicates, Sacci said.<\/p>\n “Last year, there were 72,533 reported incidents of copper cable theft and 10,736 arrests were made.<\/p>\n “Sentences passed on guilty offenders have recently become harsher.”<\/p>\n Another positive measure was the implementation of the Second-Hand Goods Act, dealing with accreditation of second-hand goods dealers’ associations.<\/p>\n “These provisions regulate suspicious transactions as well as the possession, acquisition, and disposal of metal cable with a burnt cover such as copper.”<\/p>\n The Act would be implemented in full once outstanding regulations were promulgated, which was expected to be by the end of April.<\/p>\n Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n Government is \u201closing the war on copper theft\u201d \u2013 DA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n