Call to ban the export of scrap metal

• Published date: 09 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, has called for a ban on the export of scrap metal as the theft and vandalism of critical rail infrastructure sabotage the country's economy.

'We are unequivocal in our call to ban the export of scrap metal and will support any measure that will bring us closer to this reality,' the Minister said on Monday.

Addressing a media briefing on the White Paper on the National Rail Policy in Pretoria on Monday, he said taking this step will reinforce government's interventions aimed at protecting public assets and making the theft of cables and other metals less lucrative.

'The criminality behind the rampant theft and vandalism of railway infrastructure that has stripped bare our stations and rail network requires extraordinary interventions that go beyond merely stepping up security.

'We must eliminate this perverse incentive by banning the export of scrap metal and therefore limit the market that aids this criminality. The corporate sector must come to the party and bolster our efforts to deal a decisive blow to this criminality that is enabled by scrap dealers buying stolen scrap metal,' Mbalula said.

National Rail Policy to support economic recovery efforts

The Minister said the National Rail Policy is critical for fast tracking the implementation of priority structural reforms in the economy to support economic recovery.

'The key policy position on the introduction of third-party access on the rail network is one of the key thrusts to drive efficiencies and improve competitiveness.

'The National Rail Policy will guide the building of the local industry capacity thereby boosting the manufacturing capacity and localisation.

'Government will ensure that industrialisation and the local production of steel and other inputs, rail lines and supplies, and rolling stock is promoted through policies that will require state and private operators to procure all supplies from South African-based manufacturers,' the Minister said.

The policy also encourages the entry of black, female and young industrialists as local manufacturers, including through manufacturing joint ventures.

The Minister said a localisation strategy will be used to develop the industrial base for an active export strategy, particularly to other African countries.

This will also support the Steel Master Plan of government.

The department working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will set up a joint committee to develop the strategy and will...