CMY2602 Assignment 1
1. Present a short overview of cable theft in South Africa. (15)
2. Provide an explanation of the causes of vandalism with relevant examples. (10)
Question 1
Cable theft causes chaos on a daily basis due to the fact that criminals target copper
cables located in essential corporeal infrastructure such as powerlines and
communication network towers, resulting in syndicates making millions. Therefore, cable
theft is the theft of electrical cable that is sold for its scrap metal value.
The consequences of cable theft
Wrecking infrastructure out in plain sight and often during broad daylight results in
blackouts in surrounding neighbourhoods, cell phone towers are offline, traffic lights do
not work, railway systems are destroyed and trains experience major delays. These
consequences cause server financial implications down the line due to the fact that
cable theft costs the country 5 billion-rand every year as stealing from society heavily
cripples the economy due to the loss of income, disturbance of services and repair
costs. Consequential loses also occur as people can die or get injured due to the fact
that rewards outweigh the risks as there is quick cash to be made.
Sources of copper cable and aluminium
Criminals steal copper cable and aluminium from sources that are in plentiful in South
Africa such as, overhead power lines, underground power, communication cables, earth
cables, cables found in power substations, signal cables, non-ferrous metal in railway
carriages found in doors, basins and window frames.
Two distinct groups of thieves
There are two distinct groups of thieves that are accountable for the theft of copper cable
and aluminium. Opportunistic thieves regularly steal easy to obtain fragments of cable
and use the money to support their addictions or they are very underprivileged and use
their illegal earnings as an income that puts food on the table.
The second group are thieves that are apart of organised crime. These thieves have
access to heavy-duty cutting tools, vehicles and many other forms of equipment to
commit such crimes. These criminals steal large amounts of cable by cutting off the
electricity, which also prevents electrocution. Once that cable has been successfully
stolen it can then be sold as scrap to scrap metal dealers across the country.
Reasons for the increase in cable theft
There are many reasons behind cable theft such as, a continuous increase in the price
of base-metals (non-ferrous metals), there is very limited control over the export of
metals to countries such as India and China , the fact that a low amount of bail is given
to criminals involved in cases of cable and metal theft, the lack of police and law
enforcement involvement in rural areas, scrap metal dealers knowingly buying stolen
copper, corrupt law enforcement and officials and the light sentences for this type of
crime imposed by the criminal justice system.
1. Present a short overview of cable theft in South Africa. (15)
2. Provide an explanation of the causes of vandalism with relevant examples. (10)
Question 1
Cable theft causes chaos on a daily basis due to the fact that criminals target copper
cables located in essential corporeal infrastructure such as powerlines and
communication network towers, resulting in syndicates making millions. Therefore, cable
theft is the theft of electrical cable that is sold for its scrap metal value.
The consequences of cable theft
Wrecking infrastructure out in plain sight and often during broad daylight results in
blackouts in surrounding neighbourhoods, cell phone towers are offline, traffic lights do
not work, railway systems are destroyed and trains experience major delays. These
consequences cause server financial implications down the line due to the fact that
cable theft costs the country 5 billion-rand every year as stealing from society heavily
cripples the economy due to the loss of income, disturbance of services and repair
costs. Consequential loses also occur as people can die or get injured due to the fact
that rewards outweigh the risks as there is quick cash to be made.
Sources of copper cable and aluminium
Criminals steal copper cable and aluminium from sources that are in plentiful in South
Africa such as, overhead power lines, underground power, communication cables, earth
cables, cables found in power substations, signal cables, non-ferrous metal in railway
carriages found in doors, basins and window frames.
Two distinct groups of thieves
There are two distinct groups of thieves that are accountable for the theft of copper cable
and aluminium. Opportunistic thieves regularly steal easy to obtain fragments of cable
and use the money to support their addictions or they are very underprivileged and use
their illegal earnings as an income that puts food on the table.
The second group are thieves that are apart of organised crime. These thieves have
access to heavy-duty cutting tools, vehicles and many other forms of equipment to
commit such crimes. These criminals steal large amounts of cable by cutting off the
electricity, which also prevents electrocution. Once that cable has been successfully
stolen it can then be sold as scrap to scrap metal dealers across the country.
Reasons for the increase in cable theft
There are many reasons behind cable theft such as, a continuous increase in the price
of base-metals (non-ferrous metals), there is very limited control over the export of
metals to countries such as India and China , the fact that a low amount of bail is given
to criminals involved in cases of cable and metal theft, the lack of police and law
enforcement involvement in rural areas, scrap metal dealers knowingly buying stolen
copper, corrupt law enforcement and officials and the light sentences for this type of
crime imposed by the criminal justice system.
