Cable theft has led to continuous electricity supply disruptions at the country’s benchmark automotive hub in Tshwane municipality, severely affecting output at fourteen factories, a senior provincial official said on Thursday.
Production had been halted a number of times due to the disruptions at the Automotive Supplier Park in Rosslyn, said Gauteng province’s member of the executive committee for economic development, environment, agriculture and rural development, Lebogang Maile.
“The disruptions are causing serious damage to Gauteng’s image as an industry-friendly province and a destination of choice for investors,” Maile said.
“It undermines our efforts to stimulate the economic growth of the province so that necessary jobs could be defended and created for our people.”
The disruptions have cost workers R575,000 in lost wages, in a sector that is the backbone of the province’s tax revenue base and also contributes about seven percent to South Africa’s gross domestic product. (via African News Agency)
