JOHANNESBURG Roads Agency (JRA) is concerned about the alarming increase in theft and vandalism of road infrastructure furniture within the City of Johannesburg and the compound effect of this on the economy.
They are aware of this incident in Xavier Reef Estate and will be installing CCTV cameras and sensors on signal poles before March 30. The traffic signal will be rebuilt as soon as these security measures are installed and operational.
However the JRA is facing an enormous battle to save the City’s road assets from rampant theft and vandalism.
The JRA Managing Director, Skhumbuzo Macozoma, stressed: “This spate of infrastructure theft and vandalism is a direct sabotage and devaluation of the City’s infrastructure assets. Criminals are stripping our road infrastructure furniture bar. Areas such as Wemmer Pan and Klipriver are the target of copper (cables and electrical components) and traffic signal equipment (signal heads/UPS/poles/cables) theft, and these syndicates are now spreading their illegal activities across the entire City.
“These acts lead to the disruption of essential services such as traffic lights and jeopardise public safety. The end result is a negative drain on the City’s economy, with traffic congestion and unproductive, frustrated commuters as well as a possible increase in traffic collisions. The very furniture that is intended to prevent accidents and protect our community and road users ends up being sold to illegal scrap metal dealers for almost nothing.”
He added: “Despite our efforts to provide quality roads that are accessible, safe and liveable for the Johannesburg community, the surge in theft and vandalism places strain on our operating budget intended for maintenance and on the JRA teams who constantly have to replace and repair damaged and stolen infrastructure.”
