Bob Rickards is concerned about pedestrian safety after counting 46 streetlights that have been cut down.
LA LUCIA Ridge resident, Bob Rickards is concerned about pedestrian safety after counting some 46 streetlights that have been cut down and damaged along the pedestrian crossing over the N2 and M41 highways. Rickards, who regularly cycles along the walkway, said he first noticed damaged streetlights about six months ago when a few poles were damaged.
“Over the last six months, more and more poles have been cut down. I’ve been riding my bike along the walkway for about two years,” he said. While the lack of lighting does not affect Rickards, he is concerned about the pedestrians who use it at night.
“It doesn’t bother me, but it’s dangerous for those who intend using the walkway after dark. The cost of this vandalism and theft must be enormous,” he added.
Floyd Mthembu, a pedestrian who works in Mount Edgecombe and uses the walkway, said there are frequent robberies on the walkway.
“It is unsafe. Normally, we walk there from 5pm until 6pm. Others who leave later get robbed. People are even being robbed in the mornings. Three or four people are robbed there per week,” he said.
Three or four people are robbed there per week,” he said.
Msawakhe Mayisela, spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality said: “The City has been inundated with damaged streetlights along the M4 for a number of years due to cable theft and vandalism. As a solution, the municipality is looking into installing High Mast streetlights, which will not be prone to such crimes.”
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