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Running a scrap yard is a risky business as dealers could end up purchasing stolen goods.

nbc News reporter, July Nafuka, and cameraman Uushona Hiskia, spoke to two scrap yard dealers plying their trade in the city's Northern Industrial Area to find out what measures they have put in place to ensure they do not buy stolen scrap.

This is Sarel Scrap Metal Dealers, which has been in business for the past 15 years.

The company has four branches across Namibia and employs 80 people.

Their business is a recycling center that operates by buying old scrap metals and e-waste.

John Kameuzuu explained that running a scrap yard is not an easy business as they often come across people who try to sell them stolen metals. 

"Life is hard and people are taking risks to bring stolen things, and it's not easy to tell these things apart, but we try to manage. Let me say the police are an integral part of our operations because every day we inform the police on any little suspicious or illegal thing we come across here."

Kameuzuu says there are a couple of measures in place to ensure that they do not purchase any stolen metals. 

"We know we should not buy stolen things, but we know the kind of material that we should buy. We don't buy new metals, we don't buy things that are packaged or crushed metals, and batteries whose cells can still be recharged and new batteries, those ones we send back home, or you should make a police declaration and bring them back to us."

A police declaration is also required for copper that weighs over one kilogram.

"Copper is a bit of a problem. We get it a lot as a lot of people break Telecom and Nampower lines, but we are not allowed to buy copper over one kilogram. If it is over a kilogram, you should take your copper to the police station, make a declaration, then bring that declaration to us, and if it is factual, we will buy it."

Another item that they do not buy at their scrapyard is water meters or gate motors.

"Another problem we get here is municipal manhole covers that people try to sell to us, but we do not accept those at all. You can make a declaration, and you can bring your proof, but we do not accept them at all."

Another dealership the news team visited was Scrap Salvage, which collects and recycles all sorts of scrap metals, e-waste, and vehicle batteries.

Its General Manager, Patrick van der Westhuizen, said the company also works with law enforcement, requests IDs that they scan and upload on their system, making it easier to share them with the police, and they have installed cameras at scales.

Van Der Westhuizen further stressed that his company has also put some strict policies in place.

They do not purchase manhole covers or metal scrap from municipalities, and for copper weighing over one kilogram, car parts, and batteries, one should have proof of ownership, an ID, and a police declaration.

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Photo Credits
iStock
Author
July Nafuka