Government says the establishment of the upcoming Eswatini Metal Foundries facility in Sidvokodvo is expected to play a critical role in curbing copper theft and regulating the country’s scrap metal industry.
The remarks were made by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, during the commissioning of the facility.
The foundry, which is expected to employ at least 500 emaSwati over the next five years, will process scrap metal locally instead of exporting raw scrap materials to neighbouring countries.
Khumalo said the facility would introduce much-needed oversight and accountability within the scrap metal sector, helping authorities monitor the origin of scrap materials brought into the country’s first large-scale metal foundry.
“Currently, the companies that operate as scrap dealers collect the scrap metal and export it to South Africa. With this new project, there will be no need to export the scrap metal because they will be using this facility,” said Khumalo.
He said the development will allow Government and law enforcement agencies to strengthen control measures aimed at tackling illegal scrap metal trade and copper theft, which has become a growing concern in the country.
“What makes us happier is that we will now have control over the scrap metal that will be brought here. We will be able to see if the metal has been legally obtained before it is brought to the facility,” he said.
Khumalo added that the company will work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure stolen infrastructure materials do not enter the facility’s supply chain.
“The law enforcement agencies will be able to work with the facility to curb crime as they will be partners in ensuring that the metal brought here has not been stolen from anywhere,” he said.
The country has experienced numerous incidents involving the theft of copper cables and other metallic infrastructure, resulting in financial losses and disruptions to essential services.