The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will be laying a criminal charge of theft and sabotage at the SAPS after it was discovered that the San Soucci 66kv line feeding KwaNobuhle was cut which has left large parts of the area without electricity.
According to executive mayor, Retief Odendaal, after visiting the 66kv line which feeds the substation in KwaNobuhle on May 20, it was discovered that the line was cut which he believes to be an act of sabotage and by no means just an act of theft.
“The reason for such suspicion is the fact that only a small section of the cables has been removed at a very strategic place which was done in such a way as to cause seven wards in the KwaNobuhle cluster to be left without electricity for an extended period,” said Odendaal.
He said the repair will be a massive job and that supply will likely only be restored on the evening of May 21 or May 22.
Odendaal said a specialised team has been dispatched from Gauteng to assist with the complicated repair work.
He said they have activated a Joint Operational Centre in KwaNobuhle so that the Metro Police, SAPS and Traffic Police can be deployed to protect the community from potential criminal activity whilst there is no electricity.
Sabotage is expected as only a small section of the cables has been removed at a very strategic place.
Photo: Executive Mayor Retief Odendaal/Facebook
Odendaal said he will be laying a criminal charge of theft and sabotage at the SAPS so that the matter will be investigated.
He further said his office will be offering a reward of R20 000 to any who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals involved in the cutting the 66kv line.
“We sincerely apologise to the community of KwaNobuhle for the massive inconvenience herein,” said Odendaal.