Hundreds of passengers were stranded at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday morning after three power cables were severely damaged by thieves who tried to make off with them.
Twenty flights were delayed .
Airports Company South Africa spokesman Unathi Batyashe-Fillis said the damaged cables caused fuelling problems.
"As a contingency plan, arrangements have been made to transport fuel in tankers, to minimise the number of flight delays," Batyashe-Fillis said.
"We don't have a fuel shortage.
"Refuelling is taking place, but at a very slow rate."
She said the police were investigating the matter, and that the airport's maintenance and engineering division and the fuelling services were "working tirelessly" to resolve the matter.
Hip-hop artist AKA was one of hundreds of passengers affected by the delay .
He was to fly to Bloemfontein to perform a concert.
He tweeted: "Flights delayed .... still at OR Tambo . blah . hope we don't have to drive to Bloem."
Other affected passengers included Department of International Relations spokesman Nelson Kgwete and human rights lawyer and journalist Abongile Sipondo.
Batyashe-Fillis said normal operations resumed after technicians implemented a solution to reactivate services after 4pm. - Additional reporting by Sapa
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