The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) has condemned the vandalism of the traffic lights infrastructure saying it sabotages the efficiency of service delivery.
In Midrand, there are several traffic lights that are down, due to the cutting of copper cables. JRA said signalised traffic intersections have been vandalized by criminals using angle grinders to cut down the traffic lights.
According to JRA, the impact is compounded by load-shedding as criminals capitalise on the loss of power to steal copper wire at intersections without the risk of electrocution.
At the intersections of New Road and Harry Galuan Drive, Monrose Road and New Road in Carlswald and between Allandale Road and New Road in Waterfall City there are traffic lights broken on the sidewalks resulting in slow-moving traffic during peak hours.
JRA spokesperson, Bertha Peters-Scheepers said, “JRA is facing an economic battle to save the city’s traffic lights from rampant theft and vandalism.”
“These acts not only disrupt the working of traffic lights but interrupt work of essential service and jeopardise public safety,” added Peters-Scheepers.
JRA said the end result is a negative drain on the city’s economy with traffic congestion and unproductive, frustrated commuters as well as a possible increase in traffic collisions.
They said the very furniture that is intended to prevent accidents and protect our community and road users end up being sold to illegal scrap metal dealers for almost nothing.
To help reduce this JRA said they trying to replace metal products with alternative methods.
“A reduction in the attractiveness of copper cables to vandals, either by using fewer cores or using an alternative material to copper as well as strengthening unit access and security has been piloted,” said Peters-Scheepers.
In conclusion, JRA said the fight against infrastructure vandalism can only be curbed through active community involvement.
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Vandalism blamed for non-functioning traffic lights in Midrand and the city
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