R250 000 for info on Telkom sabotage

Cape Town - Telkom is offering a R250 000 reward for any information leading to the prosecution after thousands of customers suffered a loss of connectivity following a serious incident of sabotage.

Mobile network users and fixed line customers in Limpopo were left without connectivity on Tuesday.

"This was the targeted and considered action of a person or persons who knew where to go, how to access the fibre and how to do the most damage. This was sabotage”, claimed Telkom spokesperson Jacqui O’Sullivan.

She said three significant cable breaks occurred.

“Technicians were immediately dispatched to the sites where the fibre cables were cut", said O’Sullivan.

Telkom reported the matter to the South African Police Services as well as the Department of State Security. It is working with the authorities to share all information that could be used to identify the saboteurs.  

“The Criminal Matters Amendment Act has created a new offence to criminalise damage to essential infrastructure or interfering with the functioning of basic services through criminal activity.

"We will vigorously pursue this investigation and will make sure that the full might of the law is brought to bear on any person involved in this crime,” said O’Sullivan.