How We Comply With the Second-Hand Goods Act

Scrap metal is a regulated trade, and we run our yard that way on purpose. Every load we buy is bought under the Second-Hand Goods Act 6 of 2009 — the law that governs who may sell scrap, what a dealer has to record, and how controlled metals like copper and cable have to be handled. This page sets out plainly how we comply, so that before you ever drive in you know you're selling to a yard that does it by the book.

None of it is red tape for its own sake. The same checks that keep stolen metal out of our yard are exactly what let us keep buying openly and pay honest sellers the same day, without a holdback.

What the Second-Hand Goods Act asks of us

The Act treats a scrap yard as a second-hand goods dealer, and it sets clear duties for how we buy. In plain terms, we're required to:

• Verify and record who we buy from — a valid identity against every purchase, not an anonymous cash-over-the-counter deal.
• Keep a register of every transaction — what came in, when, in what quantity, and where it came from.
• Retain those records for the period the law sets and make them available for inspection.
• Handle controlled metals — copper, cable and other high-theft materials — under the tightest rules on identifying the seller and paying traceably.

We don't get to opt out of any of it, and we don't want to. A yard that keeps these records straight is a yard honest sellers can trust when they sell their scrap metal to us — and that's the one we run.

How we comply, in practice

The law is only as good as what actually happens at the weighbridge. Here is what we do on every load.

We check ID and proof of address on every sale

Before we weigh you in, we need a valid original identity document — a green barcoded ID book, a Smart ID card, or a driving licence card, or a passport for foreign nationals — plus a proof of address such as a recent utility bill. We record a verified identity against the transaction. A photocopy or a photo on your phone won't do: SAPS National Instruction 2 of 2016 sets out the formats a second-hand goods dealer may accept, and we stick to it.

We record and photograph every load

Each load goes into our register with the seller's details, the date, a description and weight of the metal, and where it came from. We also photograph the load as it comes in, so there's a clear visual record tied to that exact sale. Written entry plus photograph is the traceable trail the Act is built around — and it takes only a minute at the scale.

We pay by traceable EFT, not cash

Cash for scrap metal has been squeezed out, and for controlled metals we pay by electronic transfer into an account in the seller's own name — never cash in hand. A traceable payment ties the money to a named, verified seller. That's the whole point: it makes an anonymous, dodgy load impossible to turn into quiet cash here.

We keep the registers the Act requires

Every purchase stays on record — who sold it, what it was, when, and where it came from — kept for the retention period the law sets and available for SAPS to inspect at any time. Well-kept registers are the difference between a compliant yard and a chancer, and they protect you every bit as much as they protect us.

Why this keeps stolen metal out of the chain

Metal theft — substation copper, stripped cable, manhole covers, rail — only works when a thief can turn material into anonymous cash fast. Every one of our checks removes that option. A verified ID and address means there's no anonymous seller. A photographed, recorded load means the material is traceable back to a person and a date. EFT-only payment means the money lands in a named account, not an untraceable pocket. Honest sellers pass all of it without a second thought — it's designed to stop the other kind.

What this means for you as an honest seller

If your scrap is yours to sell, none of this slows you down. Bring your ID and a proof of address, let us weigh and record the load, give us the bank account in your own name, and you're paid the same day by EFT. A clean record protects you as well: there's no dispute later about a load you sold in good faith. Compliance isn't a hurdle we put between you and your money — it's what lets us pay you quickly and keep doing it, load after load.

Frequently asked questions

Do you comply with the Second-Hand Goods Act?

Yes. Every load we buy is bought under the Second-Hand Goods Act 6 of 2009. In practice that means we verify and record who we buy from, keep a register of every transaction, photograph incoming loads, pay by traceable EFT rather than cash, and keep those records available for SAPS to inspect. We don't buy any other way.

What do I need to bring for you to buy my scrap legally?

A valid original ID — a green barcoded ID book, a Smart ID card or a driving licence card, or a passport for foreign nationals — plus a proof of address such as a recent utility bill, and your bank account details in your own name. With those three things we can weigh your load, record the sale, and pay you the same day.

Why won't you pay cash for scrap?

Cash payment for scrap metal has been phased out, and for controlled metals we pay only by EFT into an account in the seller's own name. A traceable payment ties the money to a verified seller, which is exactly what keeps anonymous, stolen loads out of the yard.

Do you really photograph every load?

Yes. Alongside the written register entry — your details, the date, and a description and weight of the metal — we photograph the load as it comes in. That gives every purchase a clear, traceable record, which is the whole point of the Act.

How long do you keep records of my sale, and who can see them?

We keep the register of every purchase for the retention period the Act requires, and SAPS can inspect it at any time. Those records protect you too: a clean trail means no dispute later about metal you sold to us in good faith.

Why does the Act come down hardest on copper and cable?

Copper, cable and similar high-value metals are the ones most often stolen — from substations, rail and infrastructure — so they carry the tightest controls on identifying the seller and paying traceably. We apply those checks to every controlled load, with no exceptions.