Melkbosstrand Private School has been without a telephone line since 18 July.

Melkbosstrand Private School’s problems started on the evening of 18 July when a branch of a eucalyptus tree on the M19 broke off and snapped one of the telephone lines. According to Oloff Dreyer, Chief Operating Officer of Melkbosstrand Private School, approximately 100 m of cable was subsequently stolen by thieves who were presumably after the copper telephone cable.

Cut off
The incident was reported to Telkom on the following morning. But it seems to have been to no avail. The school has been without a landline and ADSL line since that day. “Thank goodness for cellphones,” says Dreyer. “We’d be completely cut off without them. The impact has been terrible. Parents have not been able to phone the school or email us.”

Fixed but not fixed
Upon enquiry Telkom responded that “the technician to whom the case had been assigned had noted on the 28th of July that the fault had been resolved.” Not so, of course. Dreyer comments, “The perception of Telkom’s service is very negative, especially as this is a school and not a private home. We’ve taken it up with Telkom again and told them that we expect them to fix the line.” Telkom, are you listening?