Telkom cable theft: where does all our copper go?

Can the government declare copper a precious metal and be done with it?
 
Perhaps...

They could also put massive levies on the export of scrap copper. Either it will kill the trade or they will make back all the losses they have in cable theft.
 
Theo Hess, Telkom’s head of network field services, explained that they see the number of cable theft incidents closely following the curve of the price of copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
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I would have liked to see the number of copper theft incidents superimposed on the copper price graph, demonstrating the above claim. As the article now stands, it's just an unsubstantiated claim from Mr Hess.
 
Qwikslver said:
Can the government declare copper a precious metal and be done with it?
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Apparently not, but I've covered that in an article that will follow this one.

Sodan said:
I would have liked to see the number of copper theft incidents superimposed on the copper price graph, demonstrating the above claim. As the article now stands, it's just an unsubstantiated claim from Mr Hess.
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http://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/41813-cable-theft-effect-youll-be-surprised.html

You'll see from the previous article that the copper theft & sabotage incidents at Telkom have been in decline from July 2011.
 
OR...

They could hurry up and get their fibre network and FTTH going, since fibre is worthless there would be no more theft, therefore half as many faults.
 
Jack Shizz said:
OR...

They could hurry up and get their fibre network and FTTH going, since fibre is worthless there would be no more theft, therefore half as many faults.
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That wont help until they find a way to send power over fiber.

The physics just get in the way
 
I once made the mistake of driving through Thembisa, and while driving there I saw the most interesting shop.

WE BUY COPPER
and other precious metals.

I wound't be surprised if this copper is just straight sold back to Telkom.
 
Jack Shizz said:
OR...

They could hurry up and get their fibre network and FTTH going, since fibre is worthless there would be no more theft, therefore half as many faults.
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It's you and I that know this... the copper cable thief is the dumbest in the syndicate and will rip up and probably steal the fibre anyway... they simply don't know the difference until the damage is done!
 
Step 1 - They steal the cable, it gets chopped up and exported to China,
Step 2 - It is used to make new cable and we import it again,
Back to Step 1
 
The problem is whatever safeguards are put in to prevent this situation will just mean the copper will be smuggled into another country which has no controls on import and export of recycled copper.

IMHO The only long term solution would be to develop an alternative to copper that is efficient, effective and cheaper with little or no recycling value.
 
ITCynic said:
IMHO The only long term solution would be to develop an alternative to copper that is efficient, effective and cheaper with little or no recycling value.
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Yes... and it's called fibre optics!
 
BGE said:
Yes... and it's called fibre optics!
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Please explain how Eskom is going to provide electricty to your house and business over fibre. While you at it, please explain also how trains are going to run using fibre to provide power to their locomotives.

Copper cable used for telecommunications is but one small aspect of transmission over copper.

Stop, think, think again, before you post comments !
 
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Jack Shizz said:
OR...

They could hurry up and get their fibre network and FTTH going, since fibre is worthless there would be no more theft, therefore half as many faults.
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And next they will be stealing the FO cable for the kevlar cladding...
 
...dont they have alarms for when cables break etc? Why not send out a rapid response unit with a security member. Then the break can be fixed by telkom and the security member can shoot back at the thieves.2 birds one stone :P
 
easy to fix. Only allow containers with copper to go out in one port in SA. Say Durban. All containers with scrap metal must be scanned by SAPS and Customs. No melted ingots can be exported unless it was melted at a secure and well monitored smelter.
rotate personal at the port to prevent corruption.
 
ITCynic said:
Please explain how Eskom is going to provide electricty to your house and business over fibre. While you at it, please explain also how trains are going to run using fibre to provide power to their locomotives.

Copper cable used for telecommunications is but one small aspect of transmission over copper.

Stop, think, think again, before you post comments !
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Please explain how a copper thief attempts to steal a High voltage copper line. Most of them die trying to do this while probably thinking it was a phone line....

oh and..

IMHO The only long term solution would be to develop an alternative to copper that is efficient, effective and cheaper with little or no recycling value.
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lol
 
Joe_the_GR8 said:
Please explain how a copper thief attempts to steal a High voltage copper line. Most of them die trying to do this while probably thinking it was a phone line....

oh and..
lol
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Dude easy....they steal it by fixing pieces of wood to a metal saw....you must see these guys man....
Duck tape FTW!
 
drukkie said:
Dude easy....they steal it by fixing pieces of wood to a metal saw....you must see these guys man....
Duck tape FTW!
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Would have to be a pretty long piece of wood :) Would like to see someone attempt this.
 
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