The City of Ekurhuleni has issued an urgent appeal to motorists and residents to report incidents of traffic light vandalism and theft, as the municipality grapples with a growing strain on its infrastructure budget.

The city currently spends approximately R120 million each financial year on the repair and maintenance of traffic signals.

However, this budget is increasingly being stretched due to damage caused by collisions, reckless driving and criminal activity.

Officials warn that the vandalism of traffic lights not only diverts funds away from essential services but also poses a serious risk to public safety and disrupts the efficient flow of traffic across the metro.

Ekurhuleni manages a total of 1 335 intersections, of which 1 127 traffic lights fall under its direct maintenance, while the remainder are overseen by the provincial government.

In response to the rising damage, the city has committed to pursuing legal action to recover costs when traffic lights are damaged by negligent or reckless driving.

Motorists are being urged to exercise caution on the roads, avoid damaging public infrastructure and report any suspicious activity linked to vandalism or theft.

Residents can log service-related issues through the following channels:

Call Centre: 0860 543 000

Twitter/X: @CoE_Call_Centre

Email: call.centre@ekurhuleni.gov.za

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