Motorists in the dark over broken N2 lights
If you drive along the N2 between Bluewater Bay and Deal Party at night, large sections of the road are in darkness.
Dozens of street lamps are not working on either side of the freeway.
Metro Matters was contacted by a concerned ratepayer, who did not divulge his name but said he feared the situation was a tragedy waiting to happen.
A Herald photographer who went out to take photos of the broken lights was almost involved in an accident due to the poor lighting.
Former infrastructure political head Andile Lungisa disputed that dozens of street lights were not operational.
“It’s just 12 street lights that are not working along the freeway, six on the way into PE [from Coega] and [six] on the way out,” he maintained.
Asked if the department was facing budgetary constraints that were preventing them from fixing the lights, Lungisa said the department had prioritised other areas.
“Sometimes the department prioritises communities in the township.
“I can’t prioritise a freeway where there is no danger. It is better to prioritise Ferguson [Street] to have lights than the freeway,” he said.
Ward councillor Mvuzo Mbelekane denied that the lights had been off for a year.
Mbelekane said that he had reported the few broken lights that he had seen.
“I have not received any complaint recently but I have not driven on that road after dark to see whether they are operational.
“I always report lights and make sure they get fixed whenever they are reported to me or to the office.
“There’s a number on each and every light which is needed when you report, or a close address for purposes of locating the lights as they might be fixed during the day when they’re off.
“We often have accidents along that road and they affect the lights because people bump into them,” Mbelekane said.
Other areas that have been noted as having faulty lights are Burman Road, Settlers Way and Kempston Road.
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said the metro was involved in a widespread programme of fixing street lights.
“It is a continuing part of infrastructure maintenance.”
“The speed depends on the availability of bulbs and other elements of the street lights.
“We also have a challenge of vandalism and cable theft that also leads to this problem,” Mniki said.
‘We often have accidents along that road and they affect the lights because people bump into them’
Mvuzo Mbelekane WARD COUNCILLOR