Between 16 and 30 July, more than 7 400 streetlight-related requests were attended to, even amid the unprecedented storms that saw more than 19 000 additional storm-related electrical faults fixed. The City services more than 245 000 streetlights. Since the beginning of the year, interventions were put in place to tackle streetlight-related notifications, including historic streetlight service requests.
Attending to more than 7 400 streetlight-related requests over two weeks is really no mean feat. The data shows that our interventions are working. The Energy Directorate has boosted capacity with additional contracting teams, more security resources and reconfiguring the depot stores for faster dispatching of supplies. We are starting to see the results. Area South, which includes Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain, Muizenberg and Wynberg districts continues to have a high number of service requests and sadly, a large portion of faults is caused by theft and vandalism.
‘Repeated theft and material damage to the same infrastructure in certain areas is a massive issue. Much of the time, our teams arrive at the scene to find damage so destructive that the entire grid supplying particular streetlights must be repaired or replaced. It might look like a single light, but what lies beneath is often far worse. Theft, vandalism and illegal connections are having an immense impact on operations. This, together with the escalated criminality and violence in many areas where we are working, has a big impact on restoration times. Much of the time our energy teams must be accompanied by law enforcement or even the South African Police Service.
‘We are throwing everything we have at this and we urge our communities to protect their power for safer and brighter communities. We ask them to please call us if they see any suspicious activity and help us to prevent criminals from leaving our communities in the dark,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
The City has budgeted almost R79 million for street lighting and public lighting, which includes LED upgrades for the current 2024/25 financial year.
Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power
Report suspicious behaviour to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700
