South African telecommunications services provider Telkom has confirmed that thousands of mobile network users and fixed line customers in Limpopo were yesterday left without connectivity following a serious incident of sabotage to its network.

In a statement the telco said most mobile operators, businesses and individual consumers were affected.

"Technicians were immediately despatched to the sites where the fibre cables were cut and they have been working through the night to restore connectivity", said Jacqui O'Sullivan, Telkom Group spokesperson.

"Three significant cable breaks occurred but this was not cable theft. This was the targeted and considered action of a person or persons who knew where to go, how to access the fibre and how to do the most damage. This was sabotage", she said.

The telco adds that it has reported the matter to the South African Police Services (SAPS) as well as the Department of State Security.

"State security services have immediately bolstered security at key communication points and Telkom is cooperating with the authorities to share all information that could be used to identify the saboteurs," the company says.

Telkom has also announced a R250 000 reward for any information leading to the successful prosecution of the perpetrators of this sabotage.

"The Criminal Matters Amendment Act has created a new offence to criminalise damage to essential infrastructure or interfering with the functioning of basic services through criminal activity. We will vigorously pursue this investigation and will make sure that the full might of the law is brought to bear on any person involved in this crime," said O'Sullivan.