The City of Johannesburg has spent more than R65m in the past four years to fix traffic lights that are broken or malfunctioning due to theft, vandalism and car crashes.
Acting CEO of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) Louis Nel said: " Over the past 4 years, 531 of Johannesburg’s 2,028 signalised traffic intersections have been vandalised by criminals using angle grinders to cut down the traffic signal poles at a replacement cost of R28.1m.
“In the past year, this figure has increased to 172 vandalised intersections (January 2022 to January 2023), with the month of January 2023 alone reflecting theft and vandalism at 26 signalised intersections and the hardest hit area being the inner city [which accounts] for 60% of cases. In the past month, the agency rebuilt 18 intersections,” Nel said.
He said some of the common problems contributing to non-functioning traffic signals include vandalism and theft of traffic lights, traffic light signals destroyed due to motor vehicle accidents, load shedding and no power supply, electricity sensitivity (for example to lightning, power surges).
“Traffic lights are machines, they can be faulty. Between December 2021 and January 2022, 172 traffic signals were damaged due to theft and vandalism and/or accidents.
“Repairing these traffic signals will cost the City R37m. Another problem is power failure by either load shedding, or interrupted power supply from our service providers, Eskom or City Power.
“To cost of rebuilding an intersection costs between R250,000 to R400,000 depending on the fault or extent of damage,” Nel said.
He said the JRA does have a budget to repair the city’s traffic signals, however increased vandalism and theft were draining it .
“Fixing traffic lights in the City of Joburg is unending as long as vandalism and theft including all other reasons for traffic not working are still rampant. The process is ongoing. Current efforts aimed at curbing theft and vandalism include interventions by the JRA which collaborates with entities such as City Power, JMPD (Johannesburg Metro Police Department), SAPS and security organisations to ensure a more effective response.
“Replacement of metal products with alternative materials to replace hand railings, brackets, manhole covers, grids and kerb inlet covers that have no financial value to the black market is being implemented. Alternative products have successfully been tested by means of pilot projects consisting of various types of materials that is plastic, fibreglass, polymer and so on
“A reduction in the attractiveness of copper cables to vandals, either by using fewer cores or using an alternative material to copper as well as strengthening unit access and security has been piloted. The fight against vandalism and theft can only be curbed through Active Citizenry and community involvement, policing and public awareness. DTI legislation,” Nel said.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said they have deployed traffic officers to man traffic at intersections where traffic lights are not working.
Fihla said the officers would be manning the traffic at peak hours between 6am and 9am and 3pm and 6pm.
“Officers cannot be at every corner and every intersection, so with the assistance of traffic free flow sponsored by Outsurance main arterials, heavily congested and major routes are prioritised,” said Fihla.
He said they have also deployed officers to remove unauthorised people who have been controlling traffic.
“The challenge with unauthorised people controlling traffic is that if an accident happens, the city will not be liable for any damages incurred. The city can only be liable if traffic is controlled by JMPD officers or authorised officials.
“We discourage motorists from giving unauthorised people money as an incentive to control traffic. This encourages them to continue, and even go to the extent of tampering with traffic lights and traffic lights controller boxes to make money. It further endangers the lives of these individuals as they may be run over by vehicles,” Fihla said.
kokam@sowetan.co.za
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