The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is in the process of creating an Infrastructure Protection Unit to ensure a more effective response to vandalism and theft.
The entity plans to work closer with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), SAPS and other organisations.
“Theft and vandalism of road infrastructure is costing the city millions and is negatively impacting on the service delivery process. Repeated theft of road infrastructure threatens the safety of road users.
“Technological equipment enhances public safety, and any interference with the infrastructure is a criminal offence. The end result is frustrated commuters, traffic congestion and a possible increase in traffic collisions, which may even result in damaged road infrastructure and road fatalities when traffic lights fail as a result of power outages,” said Mr Skhumbuzo Macozoma, the managing director of the JRA.
Two suspects were recently arrested by the JMPD for stealing and vandalising the JRA’s Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) at one of the city’s busy intersections.
The UPS is a large bank of batteries which stores sun energy from solar panels, and this supply is used to power traffic signals when power outages occur.
The JRA said it implemented greening technology a year ago by installing 200 UPS and 20 solar panels at intersections within the city.
The advantages, according to the JRA, are a reduction in traffic congestion and improved road user safety and traffic flow by limiting the number of faulty signals due to power outages.
However, theft and vandalism has impacted on the initiative.
“The deliberate sabotage of the UPS and solar power equipment at traffic signals is a new tendency which has escalated over the past few months.
“Out of 200 panels, only 52 are operational and the total removal of one solar panel installation was necessitated following its repairs on three occasions. With this latest spate of vandalism, the on-going viability of providing an alternate power source for traffic signals is being investigated,” said Mr Macozoma.
The JRA will also launch a community-based anti-vandalism project to get communities involved in curbing these incidents.
The community is requested to report all acts of vandalism and theft of the road infrastructure and city’s street furniture to the call centre on 0860 562 874. Alternatively, residents can also phone the SAPS or JMPD.
