A DURBAN North resident has expressed her anger and frustration after thieves vandalised and stole cables from three street lights on Virginia Circle last week. Angie Doran, who lives on Danville Avenue, said the traffic circle, which has become synonymous with accidents in recent months, is now in complete darkness at night. She fears more accidents may occur and added thieves had even used white tape to stick the cut wires to the poles.
“It’s a complete nightmare during the night. Because Virginia Circle is shaped the way it is, a driver taking the bend at high speed may misjudge the turn and crash into the ditch. The chevron sign needs to be black on yellow, not red and white as it is now. Light is imperative on this circle, it’s highly dangerous to leave the wires exposed and just taped off like the vandals have.
“I’m on this corner every day and the electricity department need to investigate how the thieves have accessed the wires. I’ve seen some motorists drive the wrong way around the circle during the day and some who take the circle at such high speeds that their tyres screech. It’s much worse at night,” she said.
Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, said the lights are extremely important for driver safety at the circle.
“We often see numerous accidents there which are normally a result of speeding, but the problem is exacerbated by poor lighting and therefore visibility. It also makes it unsafe for pedestrians as motorists might not see them. The municipality needs to see these issues as urgent and tend to them accordingly when reported. The vandalism carried out by cable thieves is not only annoying but they become responsible for any incidents which occur as a result of their actions.
“Not only is it an inconvenience, but they pose a hazard to the public with exposed cables. It also costs authorities huge sums of money to continually replace. National legislation is in the process of being passed which will impose harsher sentences on cable thieves due to the impact. This can only be welcomed as a result of such sabotage,” she concluded.
