File picture: Sibonelo Ngcobo
SOL PLAATJE municipality has embarked on a project to restore street lights in the city.
Municipal spokesperson Thoko Riet pointed out that some lights have been out of order for close to three years, leaving members of the public in the dark and exposed to crime and vandalism.
“We have rewired and replaced close to 600 street lights to date and we are still continuing to bring light to those in need,” said Riet.
She stated that 90 percent of the lights were working in Eagle Street, from the police station up until Sunset Manor.
“At the corner of Swallow and Starling streets, up until Raven Street, 90 percent of the lights are in working order, while 100 percent of the street lights are working in Swallow Street.”
Riet said that Naborn, White City and Erwe were experiencing cable theft, while street lights were being vandalised.
“Naborn and White City were the worst affected, where all the street light poles were vandalised.”
She indicated that 95 percent of the high-mast lights are working after all cable faults were replaced. “Only three high-mast lights are not working due to damaged cables and no flaps.”
Riet added that stolen cables were replaced in 3rd, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, Sardines, Porpoise and Sand Shark streets in Homelite and Homevale.
“Faulty cables of high-mast lights were replaced in 3rd, 19th, 22nd and 23rd streets.”
She said street lights that were vandalised and cables that were stolen from poles were fixed in Sesedi, Phakedi, Montlahla and Lang streets
“Most of the high-mast lights in ward 13 are working, while bulbs of three of the high-mast lights need to be replaced in Mampe, Phala and Santa streets.”
Riet stated that street lights had either been vandalised, cables damaged or bulbs broken in Community, Recreation, St Pauls, St Peters and Jakaranda streets.
“We have rewired and replaced damaged cables of street lights and high-mast lights in the following streets – Peter Mokaba, OR Tambo, Letsholo and Hector Peterson.
“High-mast lights were replaced in Letsholo, Hector Peterson, Winnie Jansen and the corner of Winnie Jansen and Matthew Goniwe.”
Riet concluded by saying that it was a fruitless exercise to replace street lights if they were constantly being vandalised.
“Let us work together in preserving our resources and infrastructure,” Riet urged city residents.