Cable-theft legislation to be tightened
THE government is tightening up laws to crack down on cable theft, which is costing the country R5 billion a year, and warned that this crime would sabotage the country’s multi-billion-in frastructure programme.
In the changes to legislation, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel told Parliament in his budget vote yesterday that he was concerned that the country’s R1-trillion infrastructure projects could be crippled by cable theft.
He said he was working with Justice Minister Michael Masutha on amending various laws in the country to make this a priority crime, with tough penalties.
Patel said the amendment of laws on cable theft followed a cabinet decision last December.
Figures have shown that the country loses R5bn a year owing to cable theft.
Patel said he was working with Masutha on the laws that would come up for amendment in Parliament.
“We have taken steps to address cable theft in the country. We will introduce a Bill that will crack down on cable theft,” Patel said. There is no indication on the dates for the tabling of the new law in the National Assembly.
Ministers have, in the past, described cable theft as a threat to the economy that required tougher sanctions.
People involved in cable theft are charged with theft and get away with a few months in prison.
While Patel did not give details on the nature of the laws to be amended, he said cable theft was a serious crime and that sabotage of the country’s infrastructure by syndicates stealing copper cables could not be allowed.
Some of the incidents have led to train derailment and accidents, costing Transnet hundreds of millions of rands.