Telkom has offered a R500,000 reward after acts of sabotage crippled its operations in Midrand, Pretoria West, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and other areas.
Telkom has suffered a sustained series of sabotage attacks, and has offered a massive R500,000 ZAR reward for information on the perpetrators or organization of the offensive leading to the arrest and prosecution of the saboteurs.
In a statement, Telkom confirmed that “A number of Telkom facilities around the country were yesterday targeted in a series of acts of sabotage… Facilities in Midrand, Pretoria West, Silverton, Durban, Pinetown, Pietermaritzburg, Makhado, and Messina were sabotaged.“
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Citing the nature of the attacks, a spokesperson commented that “œCables have been cut to cause maximum damage. Entire street distribution cabinets have been ripped apart and, in a few instances yesterday, set on fire.“
The company cited that specialist equipment was used to access fibre cables at target areas, which is not widely available to the general public.
In a press statement, Jacqui O’Sullivan, Telkom’s Group Executive for Communication, cited that “œThis is not vandalism, the criminals who damaged our property knew what they were doing. Cables have been cut to cause maximum damage. Entire street distribution cabinets, which are located in neighbourhoods to serve multiple streets at a time, have been ripped apart and in a few instances yesterday, set on fire”.
Telkom has openly noted that the sabotage has occurred while Communication Workers Union (CWU) employees are on strike; previously, striking workers have blocked access to Telkom offices and facilities and have barred other employees from entering company-owned premises.
The union has engaged in strike action while demanding an 11% increase for all bargaining unit employees, Telkom said.
The firm has confirmed that it is presently investigating “a number of good leads” alongside the South African Police Services.
The company has offered its apologies to customers affected by the sabotage, stating that the firm is “working to repair the damage as quickly as possible”.
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