As a result, their main telephone line is down. This is according to the Department of Health in the Free State.

Departmental spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, says the hospital's main line cannot be reached amd they also cannot make outgoing calls from the hospital.

Mvambi adds despite the theft, a separate line for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is working properly.

He further slammed the incident and described it as an act of criminality which is affecting critical life-saving services.

"Our Technical Services are working with the Telephone Operating Services to get this stolen copper cable replaced as soon as possible so that our critical life-saving services can be restored. We call upon the public to work with law enforcement agencies, to be on the lookout and report any criminals that are either cutting electrical poles, street lights or digging to extract underground copper cables," Mvambi adds.

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