ETHEKWINI Municipality has vowed to fix the streetlights at the intersection of Tollgate bridge and the western freeway, following the shocking murder of a security guard at the intersection last week.
Resident, Faizal Sahib, whose block of flats overlooks the bridge and freeway, said he had regularly reported fault issues with the lights since 2016.
“For the past two months the western freeway area and Tollgate Bridge has been in darkness at night. I have reported this, been given a reference number and been told it would take 10 days to sort out, however 10 days later I called back and was told by someone in the Call Centre that it had been sent to the wrong department! Two weeks ago I reported the fault again and I am still waiting for something to be done. On two occasions they repaired the lights so well that they were on 24/7!” he said.
Sahib said the bridge had become a hotspot for opportunistic criminals who targeted domestic workers walking along the route and were responsible for the smash and grab incidents at the intersection.
“The area is a haven for criminals who are thriving in the darkness. I try to apprehend thieves when incidents occur, but they know the way to get away fast,” he said.
Sahib said the murder of the security guard from his block of flats was the last straw. The guard had been walking home at 6pm on Thursday, 25 April, when he was robbed and stabbed on the flyover by Westridge Tennis Stadium.
“I am so appalled by this. It is so terrible. There is a student residence nearby and I have, since the murder, warned students who wait for buses in the area to be aware. The municipality needs to be more proactive.There needs to be a police presence in the area between 6pm and 7pm while the lights are not working,” he said.
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Sahib also alerted Councillor Chris Pappas to the problem. Pappas said it was incredibly sad that a man had had to lose his life before the municipality acted to fix the problem.
“Over the months I have sent requests to officials who are supposed to deal with these complaints, so that this issue could be sorted out, but have had no response. I contacted the City Manager to enquire how many times these complaints have to be sent to officials before it becomes dereliction of duty,” he said.
Pappas said the City Manager said he was saddened to hear about the security guard’s murder and that the issue had been sent on to the deputy head of electricity as a matter of urgency.
“I was told by the deputy head of electricity that 30 per cent of street lights in the city are not working. It is terrible that someone has to die, or hurt themselves or something has to be damaged before the municipality will listen,” he said.
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