CGIS
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel has announced a temporary ban on the export of scrap and waste metal.
He made the announcement at a media briefing in Cape Town on Wednesday morning.
The move comes amid growing concern at the impact of copper theft on the economy, with Patel saying the ban is aimed at limiting the damage to infrastructure and the economy.
“Copper scrap will be temporarily prohibited for a six-month period and the permit system will apply to semi-finish copper exports,” Patel said.
“After the initial six-month period, the licensing system will be put in place on all copper trading in South Africa. It is intended that sellers of copper waste and scrap metals will have to register under the second-hand good act.
“In order to trade in copper waste and copper applicants will have to show tax clearance and dealers will be required to submit purchase and sale information to a centralized database.”
Minister of Police Bheki Cele, who was also at the briefing, said law enforcement is working around the clock to curb infrastructure-related crimes.
“To address the infrastructure-related crimes the department has established a total of 20 economic infrastructure task teams that are known as EITT within all provinces.”
