Tax-paying residents are losing thousands in income due to water and power interruptions. Some residents have been left without electricity for four days.

Despite the news of Adv. Bheki Khenisa’s plan to resign as Municipal Manager, relinquishing to the ultimate demand of the striking workers, certain individuals continue their reign of terror through undeniable acts of sabotage to transformers and mini-substations throughout town.

Contractors deployed to repair affected areas also continue to face violent attacks on site.

•Local businesswoman, Marinda Nortje from Kolletjies Kafee, explains how the most recent power outage has cost her R30 000 in loss of food stock alone.

Ms Nortje prepares cooked meals as a living and also runs a cafe supplying cooldrinks, ice cream and fried chips to learners from Laerskool Middelburg.

Ms Nortje says the whole block in Joubert Street was plunged into darkness after an electricity box was forced open and the wires were pulled out on Thursday night. The power outage has prevented her from preparing meals as well as caused her fridges to run down.

She has lost all of her spoilable food stocks including meat and ice creams and all of her drinks are at room temperature.

Ms Nortje says that several other enterprises have also reported the outage on numerous occasions to no avail.

•Another resident of Cowen Ntuli Street, who requested to stay anonymous, also attests to having been without electricity since Thursday. She is unable to work from home due to the power outage and has also had to throw out essential food items as her fridges run down.

“Our power has been off since Thursday after an electricity box was forced open and the wires pulled out. It was reported and restored at one stage but the vandals returned and the mini-sub was sabotaged again. We have become fed-up!”

• Large parts of Mhluzi has also been without electricity since last week.

While residents lose thousands in income, levies are continually deducted for municipal services which are not being rendered.

A massive sewer leak running down Meyer Street is jeopardizing the health of residents. A pipe-leak has also been wasting water down Protea Street causing large potholes on the busy route.

•Members of Sector 4 Radio Group also had to offer security to contractors over the weekend and early this morning as they attempted to restore a ruptured pipe.

•Information was also received that a mini-substation in Leipoldt Street was vandalised yesterday evening at 16:00.