This was revealed by the agency’s spokesperson, Bertha Peters-Scheepers.
She made this revelation when this paper contacted her to enquire about a traffic light that was not functioning at a busy intersection in Paulshof.
Peter-Scheepers said the problem was not limited to Paulshof, but to 365 other Johannesburg intersections where robots have fallen prey to vandalism.
“The theft and vandalism of the city’s road infrastructure is reaching alarming proportions,” she said.
“With regards to traffic signals, thieves are stealing cables as soon as replacements have been completed. In fact, at most places, the newly-installed traffic signal infrastructure is stolen the same evening again.”
It costs the city council R300 000 to replace an intersection of traffic signals that has been vandalised.
“We currently have 30 – out of 2 111 – traffic signals across the city out due to poles cut and cable stolen, and the situation is worsening on a daily basis despite all our preventative measures to counter this scourge,” said Peter-Scheepers.
She added that daring thieves were even stripping copper cables off CCTV cameras and sensors.
Peters-Scheepers said plans were afoot to replace copper cables used in traffic lights with less valuable material.
“This will, however, take time, but we are looking at using cables made of material that is not valuable,” she said.
