R65.8m for street lighting projects

THE CITY of Cape Town’s utility services directorate plans to invest R65.8 million in street lighting projects by the end of June, but says vandalism, theft, and damage to infrastructure as a result of motor vehicle accidents remain problems.

“The funds have been allocated for expansion of the street lighting network, but also replacement of old sodium high-intensity discharge (HID) lights with more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly light-emitting diode (LED) lights,” mayoral committee member for utility services Ernest Sonnenberg said. The LED replacement project started as a pilot project last year and would be systematically introduced. This process was expected to take a number of years to complete.

In terms of new projects, the utility services directorate had been installing street lighting in Freedom Park, Sheffield Road, and sections of Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay that were damaged by fire, among others.

“Street lights are integral to creating safer communities, which is why we are working hard to increase our footprint and improve the technology involved for the benefit of residents,” Sonnenberg said.

In spite of the city’s best efforts to have the public lighting infrastructure operating optimally, vandalism, theft and damage to infrastructure as a result of motor vehicle accidents remain problems.

The electricity services department also had to contend with illegal electricity connections to street lights in various parts of the city, which resulted in circuit breakers tripping due to overloading or the electricity reticulation infrastructure deteriorating at an accelerated rate. The city called on residents to report any faulty street lightsto 0860 103 089, or e-mail power@ capetown.gov.za, or SMS details to 31220. – ANA