Poorly lit Umbilo Road a blessing for thieves
Criminals are still taking advantage of organisations in a section of Umbilo Road as street lights are yet to be fixed.
BUSINESSES, an NPO and church in a section of Umbilo Road remain vulnerable to criminals as dysfunctional street lights have still not been fixed.
Business owner George Norval, who approached the Berea Mail in December last year raising concerns that the street lights had not operated in the road for seven months and noted the resultant theft at his and other businesses, as well as the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and St Cyprian’s Anglican Church across the road.
Subsequently, the street lights were fixed along one side of the road, but Norval says this has not been enough to deter criminals and appealed to the municipality fix all the lights in the road so that it is lit up at night.
“Half of the road was lit again, however I have still had criminals trying to steal fittings outside, as well as an attempt to steal my side gate,” he said. Norval said he had months ago requested that manhole covers which had been stolen, one of which is part of a sewer line which now poses a health hazard and danger to pedestrians, be replaced.
READ RELATED: Criminals take advantage as Umbilo street lights go out
A metal sign at CANSA was stolen last November, as well as copper plates from the roof at St Cyprian’s Church, which resulted in significant damage to the building’s roof. In January, CANSA’s Quantum vehicle was stolen from the property, and the Association’s Shenaaz Essop said a few weeks after that, a store room on the property had been broken into and items stolen.
“Not once have we heard back from the detective regarding the theft of the Quantum or whether it has been found. It was deregistered last month. Two people have come forward to help cover the balance of the cost of a new vehicle as we need a reliable vehicle to transport our patients. We are having to make do at the moment and it is a battle,” she said.
St Cyprian’s Father Dane Elsworth said the police visited the church after and article on the theft of the roof plates was published in December last year, but he had heard nothing more from them.
“Police visited and looked at the damage to the church, and I told them I had opened three cases at the station. I haven’t heard from them or seen them since,” he said.
READ RELATED: Thieves leave Umbilo CANSA patients stranded
Work on the roof started last week and Father Dane said it would take months to restore the building, which is 80 years old.
“There has been R2.2 million damage to the church so far. Workers have now lifted the parquet flooring due to rain damage, and the ceiling is being replaced. The pews were damaged by water and have been taken for repairs. All the exterior lights have been ripped off and at the end of the day, the damage is huge,” he said. He said with the street lights not working in the road, the church was in total darkness at night.
Elsworth said last Saturday morning thieves hit the church again, pulling up conduit and wiring at the two church gates. He said a month ago a man stole one of the down pipes and he had to have spikes installed on down pipes to ensure no one could climb up them.
Commenting on the issue of street lights, ward councillor Mmabatho Tembe said eThekwini Municipality had, for almost a year, been unable to award a tender for street light maintenance. The previous contract ended in March last year and the city should appoint a new contractor by the end of March.
READ RELATED: Copper thieves cause millions in damages to Umbilo church
“Street lights are not working all over the city. The municipality has only been fixing priority roads like the N3. I have contacted the departments regarding lighting and replacing the manhole covers, however I have had no update yet,” she said.
Capt Pumzile Makaula from Umbilo SAPS said police patrols had been increased in the area, especially at night, and the cases of theft were still under police investigation.
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