The loud pop would most likely be the mains fuse blowing, caps normally just pop up a bit, they only go off like firecrackers when they get put in the wrong way. Might be wrong, easiest way is to eyeball it - if you see a badly expanded cap, that may be it. if you check the mains fuse and its...
As some might say.... Die Telkom Die
As iAfrica reported (Full story in Link)
http://business.iafrica.com/businessday/778911.html
Maybe they could ask for some of the past Board members to chip in, seeing as it is partly there fault... and some have walked away with rather a lot of money...