Thousands of business and residential customers in Randburg, Johannesburg area have been left without fixed-line telephone and broadband services following cable theft in the area.

It’s the second time in two weeks that cable theft has disrupted services in this high-density business region.

According to Telkom, services in the Randburg suburbs of Ferndale and Strydom Park have been disrupted affected users in the Johannesburg exchange codes of 791, 792 and 793.

“Last night cable thieves cut and removed several main cables, causing major service disruptions,” Telkom says. “In total, 2 173 business, corporate and residential customers are affected.”

The company has begun restoration of the affected services. Several teams have been deployed to expedite the repair process.

“The services will be progressively restored by Sunday, 23 June,” says Telkom network field services managing executive Theo Hess.

The incidents have been reported to the police service, which has launched an investigation, the company adds. Telkom’s internal security will also conduct its own investigation.

“Copper cable theft remains a major inhibitor to Telkom’s capability to maintain and improve service levels,” says Hess.

Among other things, Telkom says it is alarming important cable routes and employing services of armed security firms and assessing vulnerable aboveground cable routes and, where feasible, burying these below ground. — (c) 2013 NewsCentral Media