Cable theft has once again disrupted Telkom services, this time in the Kyalami area north of Johannesburg. The company says services to thousands of mainly business customers have been disrupted as a result of thieves.
The fixed-line operator says it is working to restore services to clients in the area, with full restoration expected by close of business on Thursday. There was no impact on the company’s residential customers in Kyalami.
On Sunday evening, 24 June, cable thieves broke through a manhole roof in Main Road, Kyalami and cut three main copper cables. Telkom has reported the incident and a police investigation is underway, the company says in a statement.
The thieves exposed Telkom pipes on the cable run and removed approximately 70m of copper cables. A 2 400-pair main cable was also cut in the process.
Customers with the exchange code 466 in the Kyalami Park and Kyalami Business Park areas are affected.
“This crime has seriously affected our customers, especially our business customers. Cable theft results in loss in income for all concerned and ultimately the SA economy suffers,” says Theo Hess, Telkom’s managing executive for network field services. — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media