City Power is experiencing a high number of vandalised streetlights

City Power’s temporary fix on 36 Neilson Drive in Blairgowrie resulted in dangling street light poles, low-hanging live power lines, and cables tied to trees.

The temporary repair took place in the aftermath of an accident that occurred in December 2022. A car knocked down two electrical poles and was temporarily erected. City Power conducted a temporary fix with a promise to do a permanent repair shortly after.

Harold Fleishman co-chair of Blairgowrie Community Association said that the major concern is the danger as the poles are not buried deep enough in the ground.

“Cables hanging from poles; some are tied to trees and the poles are falling over. We would like City Power to replace both poles and the boxes at the top of the poles – and also to tension the hanging cables correctly before someone is injured and it causes a power outage in the area.”

He added that he has been writing and reporting the matter to City Power and they don’t bother to respond. “It’s been more than six months that we are waiting for them to pitch up,” said Fleishman.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena explained that they cannot keep up with the high demand to repair and replace damaged infrastructure and the cost implication of replacing various materials. The spotting team identified the streetlight at 36 Neilson Avenue as one of the faulty lights.

“Unfortunately, at the time, the required material was unavailable. For customer safety and security, a temporary solution was offered to avoid leaving the street dark and making the area prone to robbery and hijacking. On June 30, a team was dispatched to work on repairs to work on a permanent fix. The team will order the required material and work on repairs.”

He added that the Randburg Service Delivery Centre (SDC) apologises to the residents of Blairgowrie for the recurring challenges at 36 Neilson Drive. City Power is experiencing a high rate of vandalism of streetlights, which has been an enormous concern for residents.

To reduce the streetlight theft and vandalism crisis, City Power has started a project to install solar high masts, which are currently being rolled out in crime hotspots around the City of Johannesburg. The project aims to provide lighting during load-shedding and prolonged power cuts to improve safety for residents.

Mangena ensured residents that their temporary solutions do not pose a risk to residents as the wires are insulated, meaning the cables have a protective layer that will not electrocute anyone touching the wires.