Sparks Electrical News April 2019

CABLES AND CABLE ACCESSORIES

11

THE END OF THE ILLEGAL COPPER RESALE MARKET AND ELECTRICAL CABLE THEFT?

M12 FIELD WIREABLE PUSH-IN CONNECTORS

S outh Africa is experiencing almost 200 instances of cable theft per day. Although many cable thieves are apprehended, only 7 % of offenders are prosecuted because of the difficulty of proving cable ownership. CableDNA – a South African company – has unveiled a revolutionary cable identification method to overcome the cable identification problem. Cables (even already installed cables) are infused with a fluid that contains unique microscopic identifiers that can withstand being burnt, being granulated and being melted into ingots. Cable ownership can now be proven in court and prosecution can be effective – not allowing thieves to carry on stealing cables the next day. Cables treated by CableDNA will be too risky to steal, buy or sell because effective prosecution of thieves and illegal copper dealers will be inevitable. Government and related organisations have access to the technology that could finally destroy the illegal copper resale market. In addition, underground electrical cables older than 25 years develop small water-filled channels called water trees in the insulation which creates a short circuit and causes cable failure. The fluid used by CableDNA to carry the unique identifiers repairs the water trees and restores cable insulation properties to new levels, thereby ef- fectively doubling underground electrical cable life. CableDNA also protects uninsulated cables on electric rail infrastructure. In addition, CableDNA physically protects electrical cables against theft on masts, in tunnels, trenches, mines, cable trays and on specialised support systems using innovative and unique protection solutions. South Africa loses an estimated R10 billion a year in productivity as well as loss of lives and decreased service provision as a result of cable theft.

TURCK has added M12 field wireable connectors with integrated push-in connection technology to its connectivity portfolio. The technology enables the user to complete rapid and safe manual assembly without the use of any tools. Soldering irons or screwdrivers are not required either. The customer just has to insert a stripped single wire end into the required contact area and establish electrical contact at the same time through the mechanical locking mechanism. This enables mounting to be completed easily and reliably even in restricted mounting conditions. Besides field wireable connectors and customized solutions, Turck’s connectivity portfolio also includes field wireable connectors in M8 × 1/Ø 8 mm, M12 × 1, ½ inch, 7/8 inch, M16 × 0.75, M23 × 1 designs as well as valve connectors. Field wireable connectors can be adapted to individual requirements in the field. They therefore simplify installation wherever cable lengths cannot be estimated in advance.

Enquiries: www.cabledna.co.za

Enquiries: www.turckbanner.co.uk

JOHANNESBURG’S INFRASTRUCTURE DECIMATED BY CABLE THEFT AND ILLEGAL MINING W hen Joburg City workers were at- tempting to erect an electronic bill- board on the M2 East alerting motor- appear to have moved their activities to less dangerous areas.”

in gangs 40-strong and chased security away. If police arrived, they would call for back-up from their colleagues. Mine security, even with the back-up of police, are no match for armed gangs – equipped with acetylene torches and angle grinders – up to 80-strong. Above ground, the thieves destroyed two transformers’ substations worth R50 million to steal metal worth just R500 000. It will take months to get the mine back to normal opera- tion. Mines are rich pickings for cable thieves. Along the M2 in Johannesburg, the cable thieves work alongside the zama-zamas. At the Cleveland Road off-ramp, scattered among the old mine dumps, you can see the plastic re- mains of cables stripped for their copper. Their colleagues are working the nearby dumps for a gram or two of gold still secreted within their sandy wastes. Professor Robert Thornton of Wits University has been researching the zama- zamas. He says illegal mining in Johannesburg runs in parallel with legal mining and does not represent a loss of revenue to the legal sector. “There’s a huge population dependent on illegal mining, and it is difficult for police to stop.” Gov- ernment is considering licensing these artisanal miners in the hope that it can re-exert some form of control. At the very least, it would de- criminalise an activity that represents a very real cost to the Johannesburg economy in terms of theft, damage to infrastructure and disruptions.

He adds that sinkholes have started to ap- pear in parts of Joburg due to tunnel collapses. Illegal miners often chip away at the support pil- lars left in place by the original miners to hold up the roof. Add underground water and natural earth stresses to the mix, and collapses are in- evitable. Cable theft is a massive threat to Jo- hannesburg’s infrastructure, and is reckoned to cost the local economy tens of billions of rands each year in replacement costs and disruption. “When power cables are stolen, businesses are unable to transact over a wide area, so it is dif- ficult to quantify the actual cost,” says Mackay. “Cable theft can also put traffic signals out of or- der, and that causes huge delays to commuters. It is impossible to quantify what is the exact cost of this to the greater Johannesburg economy, but it is massive. “We have to do something about this and this is why we are bringing as many of the role play- ers as possible into the search for a solution. We can beat the problem if everyone plays a part in restoring the rule of law.” It’s not just Johannesburg that is affected by this criminality. In February, 22 presumed cable thieves were buried underground at the Gloria Coal Mine in Mpumalanga after cutting overhead cables that powered the giant fans needed to flush deadly methane gas from the working areas. Most of the dead were Lesotho nationals who had been raiding nearby mines to steal cable over a period of years. They arrived

ists to traffic conditions ahead, the sign would work for a day and then fail. City inspectors went to investigate and found that trenches had been dug alongside the highway, and the electric ca- bles removed. Each time the cable was replaced, it would be gone within a day or two. According to MoneyWeb, on further investiga- tion, in addition to the cable thieves, illegal min- ers – also known as zama-zamas – were found to be working an old underground mine in the area. This is the original Main Reef, where gold was first discovered in Johannesburg. From the east rand to the west, you can find explosives for sale at some of the illegal ‘refineries’ being oper- ated above ground by the zama-zamas. Things got hairy late last year when blasting was found to be occurring within 30 cm of a Transnet fuel pipe. Had it struck the pipe, the devastation would likely have spread for kilometres. Joburg’s infrastructure is under threat, prompting the city to set up an Infrastructure Protection Unit tasked with monitoring and pro- tecting roads, traffic signals, waste management facilities, underground pipelines and other key infrastructure. “Policing the illegal miners is not easy,” says the unit’s head, Conel Mackay. “All we could do in this situation [was] go to the com- munities who are involved in this activity and warn them that they were putting themselves, their families and huge parts of the city at risk. “This seems to have worked. The zama-zamas

Further reading: www.moneyweb.co.za/ mineweb/

ADAPTABLE CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LEGRAND’S cable management system en- compasses adaptable DLP trunking, which is fully compatible with the company’s Arteor wir- ing devices. chanical properties, also resisting the effects of UV. Other important features of this system include variable internal and external angles, rounded corners suitable for Cat 6 optical fibre cable distribution and a range of fully insulated base profiles for various compartment configu- rations.

without damaging paint or wallpaper. This clip- on assembly facility requires no screws. The simplicity, flexibility and aesthetics of this system enhances the work of architects, interior decorators, home owners and electricians, also offering substantial cost savings and reduced installation times.

This DLP trunking system, designed for ef- ficient power and data networking, provides outstanding solutions to trunking requirements in all sectors, including domestic, office, com- mercial, banks, hospitals, computer centres and industry. This modern and versatile trunking is de- signed to facilitate circuit separation and iden- tification, easy cable traffic, facilities for layout extension and modifications, maximum safety and speed of installation. Legrand’s DLP trunking is available with grey and white flexible and rigid covers that retain colour quality, maintain original shape and me-

A key feature is the combination of Legrand’s Arteor wiring devices with the DLP skirting sys- tem. This easy clip-in trunking assembly allows quick connections for normal and dedicated power, low voltage applications, telephone sys- tems, computers, and dedicated sockets. An important benefit is that all power and data is distributed in one system. Clip-in partition covers are removable for ef- fortless installation of extra sockets and chang- es can easily be made to plug configurations,

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 444 7971

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

APRIL 2019