We all know that if you want to make some money the best thing to do is get involved in copper-dealing. Oh. Wait. We’re not condoning this as a quick way to get rich? Okay, fine.

It is a cut-throat industry that wreaks havoc in our lives in SA. The theft of copper means we have delays in receiving day to day necessities, like water, phone lines and electricity. It costs South Africa almost R5billion a year.

In a massive police raid last week in the West Rand, over R100 000 of stolen copper was retrieved, and five men arrested.  Johannesburg businessperson Neil Davies was part of the group, and allegedly offered a R30 000 bribe to the police.

“[Davies] stands accused of being one of a handful of key individuals in the metals trade either guilty of fraud worth tens of millions of rands, theft that can be measured only in tons, and an array of dirty tricks that makes the accompanying paranoia seem pragmatic.”

It’s not only Davies though. It’s an industry where “business is done by way of black bags full of money, where workers are corrupted and turned against their employers, where security guards are for sale”.

Davies headed up a company called Reclam, which deals with scrap metals. After firing Davies last year and doing a company audit, it was made clear that there were discrepancies in stock.

“But that is only the very tip of the iceberg of disputes between the company and its former employee.”

Is this going to be the new Oscar trial?

Check out The Mail & Guardian