ETHEKWINI Municipality has confirmed the electricity blackout across the city recently was a result of multiple acts of sabotage.
“The city can confirm that there were multiple acts of sabotage by sub-contractors to its city-wide infrastructure yesterday. A number of substations were broken into, vandalised, switched off and some of them torched leading to multiple power outages across the city. Thousands of customers were left without electricity and the cost of the damage to infrastructure is estimated to run into hundreds of thousands of Rands,” said Msawakhe Mayisela, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson.
Mayisela said the sabotage was caused by electrical contractors who are “dissatisfied” with the contractual negotiations between them and the city.
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“Perpetrators have been identified and will be facing criminal charges and blacklisting by the municipality. Anyone seen perpetuating further damage to infrastructure will face the same might,” said Mayisela.
On Monday, shack dwellers, street traders and electricity contractors staged a joint march to the Durban City Hall to protest against corruption in the city.
The contractors accused the city of using all the money and not renewing their contracts.
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“No contracts were terminated as alleged by reports circulating in the media. However, it can be confirmed that the contract is coming to an end next month. The municipality only has a legal relationship with the main contractor. It is the contractor’s responsibility to communicate with subcontractors any information necessary at the time,” said Mayisela.
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