High mast lights keep being stolen at bridge
Theft is making a high-crime area even more dangerous.
Thieves are stealing the lights at the Khutsong Extension 5 bridge from under the municipality’s nose.
An observant resident who often travels between Carletonville and Welverdiend informed the Herald of the thefts during the past week.
The resident says she first saw some lights missing on Thursday, 14 September. The thefts have increased since then, and one week later, on Thursday, 21 September, there was only one high mast pole with all its smaller lights.
This light is before the bridge towards Carletonville.
The pole just after the bridge towards Carletonville has been bent over, and all the lights have been stolen. Thieves have cut off the tops of the two high mast lights on the way to Welverdiend.
According to taxi association employees who sit on the bridge almost daily, they noticed the thefts very recently.
“These thieves come late at night, from about 23:00, when no one is around. The load shedding also helps because it makes the area completely dark,” one said.
In the past, the Carletonville police have warned that the area around the bridge was becoming very dangerous at night.
Several hijackings and even kidnappings have happened in this area.
“The municipality appreciates the information and will investigate further means to secure the infrastructure. We also appeal to the community to assist in taking care of and protecting municipal infrastructure. The Security Cluster will be informed accordingly,” the acting municipal marketing and communications manager, Ms Nomonde Mahube, said when asked about the matter.
