DA PR Clr in Ekurhuleni Khathutshelo Rasilingwane said they recently conducted an oversite visit at Lindelani informal settlement, Daveyton, where the community raised concerns about the high-mast lighting, installed seven years ago, not working.
“They shared their fears and safety concerns because the lighting is not working, but this lighting was installed to improve their safety,” she said.
According to Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, two high-mast lights on the boundary of Lindelani and a section of Kingsway Road have been affected by illegal electricity connections.
“The light closest to the fuel station was disconnected on August 30 after illegal connections were made to the mast from Lindelani informal settlement.
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“This, however, was not the first time illegal connections have been removed from that mast, the cable was damaged and posed a safety threat to the community.”
Gadebe added that the mast closest to Kingsway suburb became non-operational on September 19 when illegal connections were made from Lindelani informal settlement to the streetlight network through the stormwater system.
“Currently, the conventional streetlights in Kingsway Road from Main Reef Road (Sasol garages) to Kingsway suburb, including the two masts, are non-operational due to illegal connections and overload, causing the streetlight network to trip. The lights cannot be switched on due to safety reasons and the danger they pose to the community,” he said.
The metro’s resources dealing with illegal connections are directed in a coordinated manner, covering the entire metro, in the most effective way.
“The matter has also been communicated to the local ward councillor.
“It should be noted that all streetlights/high-mast repairs are attended to well within the standard delivery time the metro regularly removes illegal connections,” Gadebe concluded.
