History: copper cable theft

[NoHtmlMailsPlease]

Some journo should document the evolution of copper cable theft
Sub.Sah.Africa.

Was it the 60's or 70's when the Nat-gov decided to replace overhead cables
by buried cables, because they would be safer against disruption by the
terrorists?

Or was it that some of the Boeties would benefit by the tenders?

In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.

When I travelled through Mocambique, at the end of their civil war, I saw
for
the first time, the looting and destruction of telephone and other
infrastructure built by the colonialists.

The pre-industrial mentality of the natives was demonstrated by an
alcohol still which was made completely out of natural material: mostly
mud/clay and wood; except for a short piece of copper pipe, which was
used to condense the distillate of the fermented sugar-cane.
This showed me what precious magic a short piece of copper pipe
was to the deep-rural african.

All the piekeniens were running around bare foot, as happy as pigs-in-shit,
because they were born after liberation. Only the old retired policeman,
who owned the still, told me that life was much better in the Colonial days.

I'm wondering if the Mocambique copper looters were the start of this
disasterous break-on-development in the rest of the region?

[Etienne Marais]

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
Some journo should document the evolution of copper cable theft
Sub.Sah.Africa.
Was it the 60's or 70's when the Nat-gov  decided to replace overhead cables
by buried cables, because they would be safer against disruption by the
terrorists?
Or was it that some of the Boeties would benefit by the tenders?

Tenders corruption is a trait of the New South Africa.

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.
When I travelled through Mocambique, at the end of their civil war, I saw
for
the first time, the looting and destruction of telephone  and other
infrastructure built by the colonialists.
The pre-industrial mentality of the natives was demonstrated  by an
alcohol still which was made completely out of natural material: mostly
mud/clay and wood; except for a short piece of copper pipe, which was
used to condense the distillate of the fermented sugar-cane.
This showed me what precious magic a short piece of copper pipe
was to the deep-rural african.
All the piekeniens were running around bare foot, as happy as pigs-in-shit,
because they were born after liberation.  Only the old retired policeman,
who owned the still, told me that life was much better in the Colonial days.
I'm wondering if the Mocambique copper looters were the start of this
disasterous break-on-development in the rest of the region?

Or maybe just think-alikes.

[NoHtmlMailsPlease]

Post by Etienne Marais

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
Some journo should document the evolution of copper cable theft
Sub.Sah.Africa.
Was it the 60's or 70's when the Nat-gov decided to replace overhead cables
by buried cables, because they would be safer against disruption by the
terrorists?
Or was it that some of the Boeties would benefit by the tenders?

Tenders corruption is a trait of the New South Africa.

Well yes, it's been taken to new heights.
But I can remember several incompetent/corrupt practices in pre-90's
When I went to UK in 1960 as a student I was amazed how competent and
efficient the 'officials ' were; although I'm heard it's like a sewer now.

Post by Etienne Marais

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.
When I travelled through Mocambique, at the end of their civil war, I saw
for
the first time, the looting and destruction of telephone and other
infrastructure built by the colonialists.
The pre-industrial mentality of the natives was demonstrated by an
alcohol still which was made completely out of natural material: mostly
mud/clay and wood; except for a short piece of copper pipe, which was
used to condense the distillate of the fermented sugar-cane.
This showed me what precious magic a short piece of copper pipe
was to the deep-rural african.
All the piekeniens were running around bare foot, as happy as
pigs-in-shit,
because they were born after liberation. Only the old retired policeman,
who owned the still, told me that life was much better in the Colonial days.
I'm wondering if the Mocambique copper looters were the start of this
disasterous break-on-development in the rest of the region?

Or maybe just think-alikes.

[Bodie]

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
Well yes, it's been taken to new heights.
But I can remember several incompetent/corrupt practices in pre-90's
When I went to UK in 1960 as a student I was amazed how competent and
efficient the 'officials ' were; although I'm heard it's like a sewer now.

The UK is unfortunately sinking into a Islamist infested rathole.
Sad but true.

Very soon watch for a resurgence of British Nationalism.

And then us Irish up North.

The times, they are a-changing!!!

[NoHtmlMailsPlease]

Post by Etienne Marais

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
Some journo should document the evolution of copper cable theft
Sub.Sah.Africa.
Was it the 60's or 70's when the Nat-gov decided to replace overhead cables
by buried cables, because they would be safer against disruption by the
terrorists?
When I travelled through Mocambique, at the end of their civil war, I saw
for
the first time, the looting and destruction of telephone and other
infrastructure built by the colonialists.
The pre-industrial mentality of the natives was demonstrated by an
alcohol still which was made completely out of natural material: mostly
mud/clay and wood; except for a short piece of copper pipe, which was
used to condense the distillate of the fermented sugar-cane.
This showed me what precious magic a short piece of copper pipe
was to the deep-rural african.
All the piekeniens were running around bare foot, as happy as
pigs-in-shit,
because they were born after liberation. Only the old retired policeman,
who owned the still, told me that life was much better in the Colonial days.

Other factors why they were so happy were:
* there were no non-natives present to compare themselves against, and be
envious/resentful; so when all settlers are driven out, they will be
happy.
* life was better than last-week, since a USAID chartered ship was anchored
nearby and delivering sacks of rice for each family. They were cooking a
44 gallon drum of beans and rice on the jetty, and everybody had to eat
some -- including me.

Although, they didn't need food, because Mocambique has vast areas of
good under-utilised agricultural land; which makes it absurd for the muntus
to claim that the white man stole African land. The don't want [know how to
utilise] the land. They just want to loot the infrastructure that the
settlers
have laboured for, like the Zimbos who waited for the farmers orchards to
ripen, before they confiscated his farm.
BTW. I've been reading how the Norwegian authorities are realising the
increased state corruption. [they were the most unrealistic africa
promoters].
Expect the rand to crash substantially in the near future.

Post by Etienne Marais

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
I'm wondering if the Mocambique copper looters were the start of this
disasterous break-on-development in the rest of the region?

Or maybe just think-alikes.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.

Then why, when I was growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, did every post office
have a prominent notice announcing a reward of £5 for information leading to
the arrest and conviction of people who stole copper telephone wire?

[NoHtmlMailsPlease]

On Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:56:24 +0200, "NoHtmlMailsPlease"

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.

Then why, when I was growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, did every post office
have a prominent notice announcing a reward of £5 for information leading to
the arrest and conviction of people who stole copper telephone wire?

I can't counter that. Perhaps it was a result of WWII, if it decreased
later?

Just coincidentally, someone said their phone was ooo due to cable theft
today,
and I said that I'd expect hundreds of others in the 'complex' to also be
ooo,
because the wire thickness is such that hundreds of circuits worth of wire
must be stolen to 'pay for the effort/risk', unlike heavy electric cables.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease

On Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:56:24 +0200, "NoHtmlMailsPlease"

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.

Then why, when I was growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, did every post office
have a prominent notice announcing a reward of £5 for information leading to
the arrest and conviction of people who stole copper telephone wire?

I can't counter that. Perhaps it was a result of WWII, if it decreased
later?

I don't know that it decreased later, I think it has tended to increase all
over the world.

But back then it could be considerably more disruptive.

The thieves were less likely to be caught if they worked in rural areas, and
being undisturbed they could take many kilometres of wire and also wipe out
all the trunks between Joburg and Cape Town, for example.

In the 1960s and later the trunks have mainly gone by microwave, and so it is
mainly local services that are disrupted,

And even there, fibreoptic cable means that metal theives are less likely to
target telephone wires, and go for power cables and such.

About 20-25 years ago they hit the bridge railings on most of the bridges over
the N1 in Pretoria. There's a railway bridge over the N1 a house away from us.
After they took the first lot, I tried to keep a lookout, but never caught a
glimpse of the thieves. In four raids they had taken the lot, and within a
couple of years they'd done all the bridges.

I suppose that's when they moved on to cemeteries, and took railings from
around graves and metal lettering from gravestones.

Oh, and manhole covers, don't forget the manhole covers.

And the drain covers on the N1, which killed a bus driver whose wheel got
trapped in the drain.

And the rate does fluctuate with the price - supply and demand -- see, eg:

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/01/29/metal-thefts-rise-by-20pc-as-price-soars/

http://investorinsight.net/2011/02/rising-metal-theft-from-international-property-investments/

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/09/rampant-metal-theft-tops-grant-county-sheriffs/

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
Just coincidentally, someone said their phone was ooo due to cable theft
today,
and I said that I'd expect hundreds of others in the 'complex' to also be
ooo,
because the wire thickness is such that hundreds of circuits worth of wire
must be stolen to 'pay for the effort/risk', unlike heavy electric cables.

[Bodie]

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease

On Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:56:24 +0200, "NoHtmlMailsPlease"

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
In those days, the relative price/value of copper, was not substantially
less,
yet removing PUBLIC hardware was unthinkable.

Then why, when I was growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, did every post office
have a prominent notice announcing a reward of £5 for information leading to
the arrest and conviction of people who stole copper telephone wire?

I can't counter that. Perhaps it was a result of WWII, if it decreased
later?
Just coincidentally, someone said their phone was ooo due to cable theft
today,
and I said that I'd expect hundreds of others in the 'complex' to also be
ooo,
because the wire thickness is such that hundreds of circuits worth of wire
must be stolen to 'pay for the effort/risk', unlike heavy electric cables.

And one wonders why your local telecoms has not reverted to fibre-optic
cables yet.

They scared of cutting off the copper supplies to their brothers then?

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Bodie

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
because the wire thickness is such that hundreds of circuits worth of wire
must be stolen to 'pay for the effort/risk', unlike heavy electric cables.

And one wonders why your local telecoms has not reverted to fibre-optic
cables yet.

Copper telephone wires preceded fibre optic cables, so it is not possible to
"revert" to them.

In many instances, however, stolen copper cables are being replaced by
fibre-optic ones.

Post by Bodie
They scared of cutting off the copper supplies to their brothers then?

[Bodie]

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Bodie

Post by NoHtmlMailsPlease
because the wire thickness is such that hundreds of circuits worth of wire
must be stolen to 'pay for the effort/risk', unlike heavy electric cables.

And one wonders why your local telecoms has not reverted to fibre-optic
cables yet.

Copper telephone wires preceded fibre optic cables, so it is not possible to
"revert" to them.

Thank you for the "English" lesson but I assume you understoood what I
meant.

If not, I shall endevour to structure my responses in a fashion that escapes
the Language Nazis.

In any event, please ensure that your futures posts are as flawless as your
presumption.

Post by Steve Hayes
In many instances, however, stolen copper cables are being replaced by
fibre-optic ones.

I would like to see evidence of that.
Please post.

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Bodie
They scared of cutting off the copper supplies to their brothers then?

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Bodie

Post by Steve Hayes
In many instances, however, stolen copper cables are being replaced by
fibre-optic ones.

I would like to see evidence of that.
Please post.

Perhaps you should consider doing your own research.

But if you really want me to do it, would you be willing to pay R120.00 per
hour?

[Bodie]

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Bodie

Post by Steve Hayes
In many instances, however, stolen copper cables are being replaced by
fibre-optic ones.

I would like to see evidence of that.
Please post.

Perhaps you should consider doing your own research.

So you have none?

I thought so!!!

Same old steve it seems, what a pity but to be expected.

Post by Steve Hayes
But if you really want me to do it, would you bwilling to pay R120.00 per
hour?

For you, the going street rate was what again?

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Bodie

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Bodie

Post by Steve Hayes
In many instances, however, stolen copper cables are being replaced by
fibre-optic ones.

I would like to see evidence of that.
Please post.

Perhaps you should consider doing your own research.

So you have none?

Yup.

Just as I have no evidence that men landed on the moon in 1969 or that the
name of the US president is Barack Obama.

Post by Bodie
I thought so!!!

Perhaps when you go shopping at the supermarket you demand "evidence" that the
food is not poisoned before you pay for it.

[Bodie]

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Bodie

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Bodie

Post by Steve Hayes
In many instances, however, stolen copper cables are being replaced by
fibre-optic ones.

I would like to see evidence of that.
Please post.

Perhaps you should consider doing your own research.

So you have none?

Yup.
Just as I have no evidence that men landed on the moon in 1969 or that the
name of the US president is Barack Obama.

Post by Bodie
I thought so!!!

Perhaps when you go shopping at the supermarket you demand "evidence" that the
food is not poisoned before you pay for it.

Absolutely, just as there is NO EVIDENCE that you have any ability to make
sense at all ..


Your posts seem so reminiscent of the crap Slobsy used to post ... and then
I remembered ... *hehehe*