Chairperson, let me take this opportunity on behalf of my detachment to welcome the hon Minister to the cluster. I want to assure the hon Minister that he is going to get the maximum support and co- operation from this cluster and from this detachment, the Mokoena detachment. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, I am elated and happy that the Minister has done the difficult part of explaining the objects of the Bill. What remains for me is to continue and deal with some of the issues that were raised during the deliberations. Let's face it: We have a serious problem with syndicates in our country. They range from chop-shops to those who are dealing in scrap metal, copper, etc. The question is: How can we deal with this kind of crime in our country?
It is so unfortunate that some of these syndicates and individuals are being protected by the very same people who are supposed to arrest them. It is so unfortunate that some of our law-enforcement agencies are on the payroll of these syndicates.
Another challenge is people who buy stolen goods from people who don't even have shops to sell a needle. I am happy to say this Bill, the Second-Hand Goods Bill, will, in a way, bring these illegal practices to an end. There are measures that have been put in place in this Bill and it will go a long way towards punishing those unwanted elements and those who are dealing in stolen goods. I won't go very much into law enforcement, but the hon Mack and hon Moseki will deal with it.
Let me address the question of the amended version that the committee brought before this Bill. Members are aware that in many of our communities, especially in rural areas, there are many of our poor women who travel in trains and buses to Durban every week or every month to buy second-hand clothes. In my detachment we have decided that unfortunately we don't support the requirement that our poor women will be expected to be registered to buy and sell these second-hand clothes which they do in order to support their families. They are an example of people who have started from humble beginnings, who are selling clothes.
Let's look at our very own Richard Maponya, the owner of the Maponya Mall. He started in Tzaneen, GaMaake, selling second-hand clothes and, because he was not restricted, look where he is now. Hence we said that there is no way in which we, as a committee, can support such a draconian provision in our legislation. That would have a negative impact on these poor women and people of our country who are relying solely on the income from selling second-hand clothes.
There are communities who are, as we speak, in the dark. They don't have electricity; not because there is load-shedding, not because of technical faults, not because they didn't buy electricity cards. It is because some lunatics, who behave like Satanists and who are working for syndicates, stole those cables. Hence our people are in the dark as we speak. It was not easy to deal with this kind of crime. This industry that deals in second-hand goods was not properly regulated, but thanks to the Minister, this Bill will address that trade effectively.
The Bill obliges dealers to keep detailed records of all transactions where they bought goods worth more than R100. If you don't do that, you are committing an offence. There is an obligation, as the Minister rightly said, on dealers to ensure that the goods they buy are not stolen.
Immediately when this Bill becomes an Act, dealers will be prohibited from acquiring goods from persons under the age of 18. I know my colleagues are aware that, in terms of South African law, persons under the age of 18 cannot conclude agreements without the consent of their parents.
What is good about this Bill is that if you buy second-hand goods, you must keep it for seven days before you can tamper with it. Why are we doing this? It is because there are people who will buy a car today and spray it the following morning to change the colour. You ask yourself, why? You know the reason.
What is good, again, about this Bill is that the Minister can exempt some people or dealers from registering if there are good reasons to do so. It won't be a one-size-fits-all. What is also good about this Bill is that if there are reasons for you to make an appeal to the National Commissioner, your request will be looked at and be approved if there are reasons for you to do that.
Another relief is that this Bill does not regulate private transactions. That is, if there is a private transaction between two persons, the law does not deter you from doing that. All dealers who want to deal with second-hand goods will have to apply through the National Commissioner. Of course, the National Commissioner will exercise his or her right to approve or deny your application to register.
One other provision in this Bill that will excite the members is that if as a private citizen, as was rightly said by the Minister, you suspect that a particular individual is busy committing an offence you are allowed to exercise what we call a citizen's arrest. Immediately after you have done that, please report to your nearest law-enforcement agency. You can also, if you reasonably believe that this person is about to commit an offence, do what I said.
The other question that I was asked by my province and stakeholders is: What is going to happen to someone who sells those used goods or those old tyres or those who are operating a spaza shop selling smaller items like starter packs or sim cards? Feel free, you are safe as long as you are doing your transactions transparently.
Members of this committee spent more time trying to deal with the same concern. I want to assure those people that those kinds of dealers will not be affected. The aim of this Bill is not to frustrate our poor people. There is a provision that enables the National Commissioner to exempt some of these categories, as I said. The committee is very careful not to burden our people unnecessarily.
I know Members of Parliament are honest. I want to believe that there is no- one in this House who once bought a television through the back door. I know there are Members of this Parliament who have not bought stolen goods, and who have not bought tyres through the back door. I know there are Members of this Parliament who haven't bought car parts through the back door. I know members are very honest, hon Krumbock.
My appreciation - hon Minister, I must say this - goes to Director Van der Walt. He is one of those South Africans, hon Minister, of whom I am not ashamed to say if there is space for you to promote him, by all means do so. He is such a wonderful guy who assisted the committee. Even when we had our meeting in the Free State, when we knocked off at 1 am, he was there to assist us. My time has expired. Let us support the Bill. Thank you very much.