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TALKING TOUGH: Deputy Minister of Police Maggie Sotyu says people who buy stolen goods will be held as liable under the new law as those who stole the goods. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA

DEPUTY Police Minister Maggie Sotyu yesterday told a packed Thohoyandou town hall that the new Second-hand Goods Act would deal a hammer blow to crime since the buyer would, according to the new law, be held responsible as much as the seller.

Launching the new act representing Minister Nathi Mthethwa, whom she said could not make it to Thohoyandou because of the bad weather, Sotyu said the new act was an expression "of our commitment to reach out to communities, be they urban or rural, that crime does not pay".

The purpose of the statute is to regulate the business of dealers in second-hand goods and pawnbrokers in order to combat trade in stolen goods.

Among other things, the act requires all dealers in second-hand goods to report to the police all suspicious transactions where the seller attempts to provide false particulars, or where the goods are suspected to be stolen or tampered with.

Sotyu said the new act would be a pain to criminals because people who buy stolen goods will be held as liable by the law as those who stole the goods.

She also urged people to be suspicious of people selling second-hand goods and report them to the police.

Limpopo MEC for safety and police Fhulufhelo Radzilani said she was happy that in coming to launch the act in Vhembe, the deputy minister also visited Vhembe's child protection unit and the one dealing with sexual offences.

"The province will also use next week's celebrations of the national week to educate people about the new act by preceding celebrations with workshops," she said.

Radzilani said people who are in need of water often got frustrated when meter pipes and borehole machines were being stolen.

"When the perpetrators are brought to book they end up walking scot-free in our courts because it is said municipalities do not have bylaws and perhaps this new legislation will stop such crimes," she said.

Acting Vhembe District executive mayor Lucas Manyuha said the district committed itself to supporting the implementation of the new Act and would back police stations within its jurisdiction in the fight against crime.

The meeting was also addressed by representatives from the community policing forums and business against crime.

Comments

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Sat May 25 03:38:30 SAST 2013 ::

May 22, 2012

MommaC

First problem is how the buyer actually is able to determine the status of the goods. Even a police clearance certificate does not guarantee that you are not receiving stolen goods.
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May 22, 2012

TjoVtjo

the second thing is how does a normal citizen determine proof of I.D. and proof of address of the seller?
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May 22, 2012

Pointman

Stealing communal property brings misery to a lot of people who are living in desperately poor circumstances already. Surely the buyers are aware that borehole pumps and copper pipes are most probably stolen if they are brought in by someone just walking into the shop.
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May 22, 2012

tpaz

@MommaC, in the case of police clearance. The police need to be held responsible.
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May 22, 2012

MommaC

tpaz

Nope.
If you go to the cops and ask for a police clearance on a vehicle they stipulate that they cannot be held responsible if it turns out to be stolen. Check it up.
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May 22, 2012

Vhamsanda

Eish ... The end of "DULLAS "
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May 22, 2012

ProudlyNigerian

Another dum.b act made by dum.b people.How are people who trade physical and online in second hand goods on websites like bid and buy or gumtree supposed to a make a living now!!! Buyers will now be scared to purchase items offline & online and will now demand rid!culous "proof of ownership" before making any purchase.This will only put more people out of business especially online traders.Viva cadre deployment Viva,what a bunch of idiots.Dum.best police force on the planet.
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May 22, 2012

Bombay_Mafia

@ Vhamsanda

Dullas will be more cheaper, because the buyer is taking the risk too !
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May 22, 2012

MommaC

ProudlyNigerian

Well they are very good at making silly laws but they are completely hopeless at monitoring and enforcement so it is unlikely that it will affect anyone. We are all swiftly getting to the stage where we just ignore the laws we don't like. Not a healthy road to travel.
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May 22, 2012

tpaz

@MommaC, then what is the use of a police clearance, as the name suggests. The "thing" has been cleared by the police. It is their duty to make show it is not stolen. Dum.b police like 9Nja boy is saying.
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