JOHANNESBURG, (PNA/Xinhua) — South African authorities on Friday condemned the move to cause power interruption in Johannesburg, likening it to the act of terrorism.
The action to intentionally interrupt power during strike in Johannesburg was equal to terrorism, Faith Mazibuko, an official of Gauteng province, said after the power outage.
Johannesburg is South Africa’s biggest city and economic capital. It is also the capital of the richest province of Gauteng.
“We are angry as a provincial government, people behind the power disruption have endangered people’s lives,” said the Gauteng safety member of the executive council
The initial investigation indicated that the Johannesburg power was sabotaged.
On Wednesday afternoon, several hundred disgruntled workers went on strike in Johannesburg, because they were angry with the new shift structuring being implemented.
Mazibuko said the varied agencies have joined the investigation into the case.
Showing the efforts for the legal action to be taken to handle the power sabotage, Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau said on Friday. “The process of laying criminal charges has been undertaken.”
“The labor relations process has to be respected, but a situation where residents were deprived of electricity could not be allowed,” warned the mayor.
Power in some areas in Johannesburg has been fully restored, while other parts may remain in darkness over the weekend.
In South Africa, September is normally regarded as the starting month of the “strike season” due to many sectoral wage contracts expiring for discussion.
On Thursday, acting cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams called for order and law during the strike season.