Councillors in Alberton have called on Evert du Plessis, member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and spokesperson for Roads and Transport, to visit the city and conduct oversight of several non-functioning traffic lights.

They are urging the Gauteng Provincial Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT) to take urgent action.
During the inspection, officials witnessed two near accidents within just five minutes at the busy intersection of Swartkoppies and Potgieter roads, highlighting the serious danger motorists face daily.

Ward 94 Clr Samantha Nair, one of the councillors who invited Du Plessis, stressed the urgency of the issue.

“The situation poses enormous danger to motorists and other road users, and we are doing everything possible from our side to get the traffic lights fixed,” she said.

Du Plessis is expected to raise the matter as an urgent issue in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to push for a swift resolution.

Long-standing frustrations

The traffic light failures are part of a wider, ongoing problem affecting Alberton and the surrounding areas.

One of the worst-affected areas is Swartkoppies Road, where lights have reportedly been out of order since December 2024, resulting in daily congestion and hazardous driving conditions.

Many local motorists have described the route as a nightmare during peak hours, adding that while EMPD often directs traffic, little to nothing is done to repair the lights.

Vandalism adds to safety risks

Residents report a worrying increase in streetlight and traffic light vandalism, with criminals using grinders to strip poles of valuable components.

ALSO READ: Alberton’s infrastructure crisis: Vandalism, non-functional traffic lights, new city response

Damage has been reported along major roads, including Kliprivier Road towards the Mall of the South and the highway to Bedfordview, leaving areas in darkness and increasing the risk of accidents and crime.

City yet to respond

The Alberton Record contacted the City of Ekurhuleni to request clarity on the traffic light repairs and measures to prevent further vandalism on the traffic lights that are owned by them.

At the time of publication, no response had been received.

Residents are now demanding urgent action, insisting that restoring traffic light functionality and safeguarding road infrastructure must be prioritised before more accidents occur.