Supplied
Residents of Kwanobuhle in Kariega could be in the dark for the entire weekend, and not just due to load shedding.
Executive mayor, Retief Odendaal, said cable theft on the 66kv San Souci line has left the entire area without power.
“This is a massive repair job and it is likely that supply may only be restored by Monday evening,” he said.
Odendaal, who conducted a site inspection on Saturday, said a specialised team has been dispatched from Gauteng to “assist with the complicated repair work.”
He only a small section of the cables were removed "at a very strategic place- done in such a way to cause 7 Wards in the KwaNobuhle cluster to be left without electricity for an extended period of time."
"There is a strong suspicion that this was an act of sabotage and by no means just an act of theft."
Odendaal said he would laying a criminal charge of theft and sabotage at SAPS Kwanobuhle on Sunday so that the matter will be investigated.
"My office will also be making available a reward in the amount of R20000 to anyone that can provide us with information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals," he said.
