Initiatives of the Non-Ferrous Crime Combatting Committee (NFCCC)

[Last Updated : 23 March 2009]

The Initiatives of the Non-Ferrous Crime Combating Committee

A key aim of the Non-Ferrous Crime Combatting Committee (NFCCC) is to ensure that the market into which stolen cable is disposed will be addressed more effectively by both Government and business.

As a result of this, the new governance structure and forum has adopted a strategy reliant on an offensive on a number of fronts.

The National NFCCC

The National NFCCC, chaired by Assistant Commissioner Lebeya of the SAPS, has been transformed from being a reporting forum to a proactive operational forum that seeks to benchmark the standards for operational procedures and successes nationally, while obtaining the buy-in of all relevant role-players.

The Provinces

Currently, provincial forums have been established in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and Limpopo. Nodal points for each stakeholder within the provinces have been established to deal with prosecution-related issues, as well as to ensure that provincial implementation is aligned to the national turn-around strategy.

The Export Market – Legislation and the Establishment of More Effective Border Control

Given the fact that a significant degree of illegally obtained non-ferrous metal and cable is exported to meet demand in other markets such as those in the East (i.e., China and India), the initiative is working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), South African Revenue Services (SARS), and ITAC to scrutinise current legislation, policies, regulations and trade agreements with a view to possibly amending these so that illegal non-ferrous metal exports from the country may be curtailed.

Work with the border police remains a critical component of the detection of criminal activity and cross-border syndicate operations. Legislation restricting possibilities for the illegal export of non-ferrous metals will assist to close existing loopholes and give border controllers the necessary `teeth’ to do their work more effectively.

National Communications Task Team

A national Communications Task Team has been established. The aim of the Communications team is to build general community support for the work of the NFCCC in seeking to close down the illegal markets supplied through the theft of non-ferrous metals. Greater community involvement and a social marketing approach will seek to encourage the reporting of crimes and any information related to the work of syndicates and illegal operations which impact the general functioning of the country in terms of electricity, transport, communications and other services. As the Second Hand Goods Act places stringent requirements on Second Goods dealers, information with regard to the requirements of the Act will be of benefit to both dealers and consumers.

Information Flow and Analysis

To enhance the work of the NFCCC, reliable information with regard to incidents, arrests, prosecutions, the issuing of certificates in terms of the Second Hand Goods Act, modus operandi, hotspots, etc. is needed from all role-players.

The analysis of collected statistics will allow for accurate indicators to be developed, as well as information indicating the prevalence of the crime and any associated results in reducing the prevalence of the crime. Through a centralised analysis of the provided statistics collected nationally, the effectiveness of implemented strategy initiatives to combat and prevent this type of crime will be assessed on a continuous, month-on-month basis.

A current challenge has been the fact that the crime has not been separately reported to-date, despite its significant impact on the industries that have been targeted by this type of crime, the economy and communities more generally.

International Research and Best Practice

As the theft of non-ferrous metals is not unique to South Africa, there is much research and international knowledge that can be harnessed by the South African NFCCC to enhance its current approach. International benchmarking and the adoption of a comparative approach may assist the national NFCCC to adapt proven innovations and strategies to the South African context to reduce the theft of non-ferrous metals in the country.

Training

A training manual and a series of workshops will assist law enforcement officials to effectively carry out their mandate in the successful arrest and prosecution of criminals engaged in the theft of non-ferrous metals. Specialised training will include a focus on the management of dockets, intelligence and prosecution-driven investigations, court processes and the application and enforcement of relevant legislation, including the Second Hands Goods Act.

The Role of BACSA

BACSA provides the national Secretariat and co-ordinating function for the NFCCC and chairs the national Communications task team.

Within the BAC provinces (i.e., KZN and the Western Cape, particularly, as priority provinces) the provincial roll-out of the national strategy is being implemented.

Partners

The initiative includes industry players such as Transnet, Telkom and Eskom, as well as the law enforcement agencies, including the SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the DTI, ITAC, SARS and border control, among others.