NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN REPLY

PQ1059: Mr D.J. Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterens:

(1) Whether the SA National Defence Force has experienced any incidents of copper wire theft during the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if so in each specified case, (a) (i) where and (ii) when did the incident take place, (b) how much copper wire was stolen and (c) what is the value of the copper wire that was stolen;

(2) is the matter being investigated?;

(3) what progress has been made in respect of the investigation?

NW1289E

REPLY

Answer 1: Yes

Answer 1.a.i:

• Theft at lower antennae farm of copper ground planes and earthing straps at Silvermine.
• Theft of copper pipes associated with the cooling tower at Silvermine.
• Theft of brass water outlets caps on the diesel cooling tower at Silvermine.
• Theft of brass probe and coupling of water main at Silvermine.
• Theft of antenna cables. Amplifiers and destruction of property at upper antenna farm at Silvermine.
• Theft of ground plane of A6 antenna on lower antenna farm at Silvermine.

Answer 1.a.ii:

• Theft of copper wire planes and earthing straps discovered on 07 February 2012
• Theft of copper pipes discovered on 16 February 2012
• Theft of brass water outlets caps discovered on 04 July 2012
• Theft of brass probe and coupling discovered on 13 July 2012
• Theft of antenna cables discovered on 26 January 2013
• Theft of ground plane of A6 antenna discovered on 07 May 2013

Answer 1.b:

• OB/693/02/2012 - theft at lower ant farm. Estimated amount of copper wire stolen was approximately 5,406 meters.
• OB/1201/02/2012 - theft of copper pipes associated with the cooling tower was approximately 50m of copper pipes.
• OB/1130/01/2013 - theft of copper antenna wires and amplifiers on the upper antennae farms is estimated to be the same amount as the lower antenna farm except antenna amplifiers cables and electrical cables lengths must be added.

Answer i.c:

• OB/693/02/2012 - theft at lower ant farm. Estimated value of copper theft R46 000.00 for approximately 5,406 meters of copper wire that was stolen.
• OB/1201/02/2012 - theft of copper pipes associated with the cooling tower. Estimated value of copper pipes replaced and repair due to copper theft R4,500.00.
• OB/1130/01/2013 - theft of copper antenna wires and amplifiers on the upper antennae farms is estimated to be similarly to the lower antenna farm except the cost of the amplifiers and the electrical power cables need to be added.
• The cost of repairing the fence and the brass coupling is still being determined by the Department of Public Works.
• Estimated value of the copper wire alone is R46 000,00 at the upper antenna farm. The cost for repairing the amplifiers, electrical power cables and property is still to be determined.
• Estimated value of the 30 meters of copper wire stolen is R200.

Answer 2: Yes all incidents of copper theft were reported to the Military Police or SA Police Services (SAPS) as they occurred. The following Military Police OB reference numbers or SAPS case numbers refer:

Answer 3: To date all incidences of copper theft were reported to the Military Police and in some cases to SAPS. Investigations are still underway and in some cases specific suspects are being investigated by the Military Police. Details of these investigations are sensitive at this stage.

In March 2013 four suspects were apprehended by SANPARKS personnel in connection with the copper theft at the upper antenna farm at Silvermine and handed over to the Muizenberg SAPS. They were later released by the SAPS when it was discovered that they were all minors.

Issued by Parliament, June 26 2013

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