Vodacom KZN: 'Thieves targeting stations'
Vodacom in KwaZulu-Natal says it is working with law enforcement agencies to reduce attacks on its base stations in the province.
The company says cellular tower break-ins in the province cause a major inconvenience for communities, jeopardise safety and cost money.
Vodacom says it has more than a thousand base stations in KZN - many of which are in remote, isolated areas.
In a recent statement, Vodacom says thieves are targeting the stations to steal batteries, diesel and cables.
The company's Ishmael Mathinya says damaged base stations often leave people without network coverage meaning they can not make calls, even in emergency situations.
“Potentially at that very critical time, when you have to make that very key call that might help you, you won’t be able to,” he says, “And the consequences can really be dire depending on how critical the matter you’re dealing with or the issue at hand, is”.