A recent surge in streetlight repairs has led to a significant drop in crime and hijackings in some parts of Lyttelton and Olievenhoutbosch.
The recent repair work was carried out under the mayor’s urban management plan.
This forms part of the metro’s efforts to address the 6 900 streetlights reported faulty across Centurion.
Corporate and shared services MMC Dana Wannenburg said 600 streetlights were fixed in the two areas in two weeks.
He said the initiative started in Ward 57 and included multiple activities, such as repairing potholes and streetlights, pruning trees, cutting grass, and clearing stormwater drains on Cantonments Road in Lyttelton.
“I was impressed by the work of the drain-clearing team provided by our corporate partners at Santam,” said Wannenburg.
He said the initiative was proof of the successful partnership between the metro and the private sector.
The repair work extended to Olievenhoutbosch with a focus on streetlights in Wards 77 and 106.
Wannenburg said he worked together with ward councillors of the areas to inspect the pothole repairs and street cleaning work that was carried out.
“I would like to highlight the success of the community of Ward 106 in coming together to protect their local infrastructure, resulting in no cable theft for the past year.”
He said the area often experienced cable theft that left it without power for days.
“The urban management teams also repaired streetlights along Waterburg Road that were out for over eight months due to cable theft,” said Wannenburg.
Image: Supplied
He said the metro is hopeful that the streetlights will now remain on.
“Region 4 officials have fixed a combined 600 streetlights in two weeks from July 29 to August 4 and August 5 to August 11.”
Wannenburg said more streetlight repairs will be rolled out to various regions of the city.
Ward 57 councillor David Farquharson said there was an increase in crime and hijackings in Lyttelton before some of the streetlights were fixed.
He said residents were concerned about their safety at night and believed that some of the hijackings wouldn’t have happened if the streetlights in the area were working.
“Cable theft was also on the rise because it was often dark and criminals took advantage,” said Farquharson.
“I am thrilled that work is being done to lighten up the city. I am also very grateful to the mayor for pushing this initiative.”
Farquharson said the recent repair work has made a difference even though some streetlights on the main roads are still not working.
Ward 106 councillor Kenneth Masha said 80% of the ward was in the dark before the repair work started.
He said about 15% has been fixed due to the recent intervention by the metro.
“I appreciate the metro’s intervention because some of the streets that I had submitted for attention have been attended to,” said Masha.
Masha said the streets that were of concern are now well-lit and have helped residents in the area feel safe when walking at night.
“This is something that has not happened in my ward for at least the past four years. Crime was thriving in the dark streets of Olievenhoutbosch.”
He added that the working streetlights have helped reduce the high levels of crime in the area.
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