KING WILLIAM’S TOWN – The South African Police Services (SAPS) efforts in curbing the threat posed by ferrous and non-ferrous metals related crimes as well as essential infrastructure related crimes are showing results. This follows the multi-disciplinary operation conducted in the Cradock and surrounding areas between 21 and 24 October 2019 focusing on Second Hand Goods Dealers, Scrap Metal dealers, proliferation of stolen vehicles as well as cellphone shops.

More than 40 businesses were visited and fines to the value of R15,000 were issued to seven (7) dealers who were found to be in Contravention of Second Hands Goods Act, Act 06 of 2009. Two dealers were fined for failing to register as a dealer and five other dealers were fined for failing to keep a register in a prescribed form. While 1 079 of Rica’d simcards estimated at a value of R5395.00 were seized. Property including two (2) gambling machines, 69.85 kg copper estimated at a market value of R2444.75, and 7.3kg’s of Aluminium estimated at R4308 as well as VW Golf engine were found and confiscated.

Two males aged between 23 and 43 were arrested for dealing in drugs and dagga. Musa Dyomfana, 43, from Sommerset East was charged for dealing in drugs (Mandrax) after he was arrested for being in possession of 17 Quarter Mandrax and 01 full tablet Mandrax. While in a separate incident, the 23-year-old Luzuko Madadase from Lingelihle in Cradock was found in possession of dagga and charged for dealing in dagga.

The two suspects have appeared in the Cookhouse and Cradock Magistrate’s Courts.

The awareness campaigns were conducted at Cradock Taxi Rank, Lingelihle Township, Miguasdal Township and Cradock CBD area by the Provincial FLASH Unit focusing on Second Hand Goods where community members were educated about the impact and multitude of economic and socio-economic strain and the continued threat which are the direct result of the continuing threat posed by the of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and infrastructure related crimes.

These operations will be held monthly in every part of the province and we are confident that soon we will see a decrease in the theft and damage of non-ferrous metals in the province. This will in turn assist the economy of the Eastern Cape, said Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga.

Source: South African Police Service