Sabotage is to blame for large swathes of Dundee being without power since around 2am this morning. A burnt out sub-station on Cornhill Street, at the entrance to Sibongile, has been cited as the cause of the black out.

The upper Berea, Sibongile, Strathmore Park and the lower part of town are also without power but this was linked to an unrelated cable break. The cable is expected to be repaired soon.

Electricians are on the scene of the destroyed sub station. It appears as if the lock on the door was broken open and a burning tyre thrown into the station. Damaged is estimated at around R2-million and the outage, which will affect Sibongile, could last for days as new equipment has to be ordered and fitted.

Earlier in the week Municipal officials were warned of possible protests after tenders for today’s Youth Parliament, opening in Sibongile with Premier Zikalala in attendance, were allegedly awarded to outside companies.

Organisers of the event who did not want to be named told the Courier that size of the marquee, which will house the Youth Parliament sittings, could only be sourced in Durban.

The sub station fire is unlikely to affect the opening of the Youth Parliament which is scheduled to start at 10am as the organisers have generators on stand by.

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