Pieces of stainless steel scrap metal believed to be contaminated by uranium that is radioactive, have been found by a scrap metal dealer in Cape Town, Namibia’s uranium producer Rössing announced. The scrap dealer in South Africa alerted the Rössing Uranium Ltd about the scrap metal which was allegedly received from a Namibian scrap dealer. The radioactive contamination level of the scrap metal "is very low", Rössing said and would not pose any danger to the health of people who handled it. Representatives of Rössing visited the scrap metal dealer in Cape Town and determined that the scrap metal is similar to those used at the mine.

"The mine has strict procedures in place to prevent any contaminated scrap metal leaving the mining site", its general manager Rehabeam Hoveka said. A full investigation was launched to determine the origin of the scrap metal. If the scrap metal was from Rössing, the company would launch an investigation to establish how and who removed the metal, Hoveka added. Rössing notified Namibia’s ministry of mines and energy of this situation. The mine is currently in discussion with the scrap dealer in RSA for the safe handling and disposal of the contaminated metal.