How long does it take for KDM to fix a light?

How long does it take to fix street lights?

More than three years if you live in Ballito or Salt Rock.

The hair-pulling frustrations ordinary citizens have experienced to try and switch the street lights back on continues as once again KDM’s electrical engineering business unit changes street light-repair contractors.

This means the inspection and repair process has to start over – delaying repairs even further.

The problem of poorly lit areas and streets was highlighted at ward 22’s first quarter meeting recently.

According to ward 22 councillor Privi Makhan more than half the street lights in Salt Rock and Sheffield are not working.

A recent audit of street lights conducted in ward 22 noted that a total of 401 lights were not working out of a total of 666 lights.

Coucillor Makhan said at the meeting a tender for streetlight materials was issued on January 31, with a contractor expected to be appointed by March 20.

“Lights that were repaired between August and September last year have already become defunct. The electrical engineering business unit needs to ensure that repairs are done as per specifications and we do not have a situation of defunct lights within a few months of repair,” said Makhan.

Ballito Neighbourhood Watch and Ward 6 committee member Flip Helberg said a many as 60 percent of street lights in Ballito do not work

“Most of the street lights have not worked for more than two years despite reassurances by unit head, Sibusiso Jali at the last three public meetings that an independent contractor has been appointed. A number of newly installed lights have also stopped working shorty after they were repaired,” said Helberg.

“At the beginning of last year it was said we did not following the right channels when reporting faulty street lights. We now have a list of reference numbers from last year and yet most of these lights still have not been repaired. Various organsitions have written emails and most have not received replies.”

At last years IDP meeting in May unit head, Sibusiso Jali told the public the servicing and repairs of the street lights had been outsourced to an independent contractor who was scheduled to start the critical work at the beginning of June.

More than R4 million had been budgeted for the repairs in Ward 6 and 22.

A project budget of R5,5 million had also been set aside for the installation of new LED street lights in a few selected streets in Wards six and 22.

Veritas Engineering were the consultants assigned to fix the street lights.

KDM media liaison officer Sipho Mkhize, said the contract for the repairs of the electrical network, including streetlights had closed on January 24.

“Evaluation for this tender is currently taking place, with the likelihood the awarding of the contract will be done in March,” said Mkhize.

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