The City’s Energy Directorate’s light-emitting diode (LED) streetlight upgrade project is making steady progress across the metro following successful rollouts on main arterial routes in Mitchells Plain, Nyanga and Makhaza among other areas. The latest rollout of this project took the City’s energy teams to the Green Point and Sea Point areas where over 250 streetlights were upgraded with power saving LED lamps. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, and officials visited Green Point to have a look at the work to upgrade older streetlight bulbs.
The City’s Energy Directorate is installing brand new LED streetlight fittings in the Green Point and Sea Point areas as part of a City-wide LED retrofitting programme. The old 150-watt high-pressure sodium lamps have been replaced with sleek 100-watt LEDs, offering greater efficiency and night-time visibility.
‘The City is undertaking a comprehensive upgrade of its streetlights, replacing older, less efficient bulbs with newer, brighter LED fittings across all areas of the metro. Over recent months and years, our teams have been making steady progress in installing these energy-efficient LEDs, and we expect to reach even more areas in the coming months.
‘The City has budgeted almost R79 million to street lighting and public lighting which includes LED upgrades for the current 2024/25 financial year.
‘As part of our commitment to improving the City’s energy efficiency, we are focusing on our long-term projects aimed at replacing older less efficient streetlight fittings with newer power saving LEDs. We are currently implementing our 25 year rollout plan, prioritising LED streetlight retrofits on main arterial routes while minor, less busy routes will be attended to in the outer years.
‘LED streetlights offer significant advantages over traditional lighting options. They are more energy-efficient, have a longer lifespan, improved light quality, and a reduced environmental impact. Additionally, LEDs are easier to maintain and less susceptible to vandalism due to their construction. This initiative is an example of the City’s investment in critical infrastructure and its commitment to improving lighting across all areas of the metro. We thank the project teams for their work and community members for their support,’ said Alderman Limberg.
Benefits of LED lighting:
• Efficient infrastructure in the community – LEDs are more energy-efficient than traditional lighting. LEDs also do not contain harmful materials.
• Light quality and lifespan – LEDs provide brighter, more focused light, which improves visibility and potentially enhancing safety on our roads. LEDs also last much longer, which means fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs for the City.
