File
Power utility Eskom said it would be beefing up security at all power stations following two acts of suspected sabotage this week.
Spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha, said in the latest incident a cable was severed at the Tutuka Power Station while they were finalising preparations to return Unit 5 to service.
He said this led to a three-day delay in returning the unit to service as it took some time to locate the fault.
Mantshantsha said on the same day another incident was detected on a turbine system where it was discovered "that a pipe had been cut with a power tool and the entire bend removed."
He said this was fixed and the unit was expected to return to service on Thursday.
"Eskom believes these were deliberate acts of sabotage by someone who had access to the site where only employees have access and knows the security features in the area quite well," he said.
Eskom has laid criminal charges with the police and this was the "fifth incident of sabotage" reported since March 2021.
