Street lights spark concerns in Glenwood

FAULTY street lights have sparked safety concerns for residents in Glenwood. They say lights have been out along Lena Ahrens Road since September last year. What’s more, Bulwer Park has been plunged into darkness as there are no working lights in the park.

Shirley Parker, who lives opposite the park on the corner of Lena Ahrens Road and Helen Joseph Road, said she contacted the eThekwini Municipality to report that pole 55 and pole 77 were not working in September, 2019.

“They replaced the light in pole number 55 and the lights were on. Then they came a few days later and replaced the light in pole number 77 and everything was fine. Two days after, pole number 55 was out again,” she said.

According to Parker, since then the street lights along Lena Ahrens Road have been from the intersection of Lena Ahrens and King Dinizulu Road, all the way past Bulwer Park and beyond.

“I know the lights are off, because at night time I had to take my friend home, who lives behind Carrington Heights. I reported it and (the eThekwini Municipality) gave me a reference number. I followed up because nothing had happened. I was told the fault was reported to the electric department. I phoned again and was told the same thing, so I waited a week or two before phoning again. I got so sick and tired of phoning that I stopped trying about three months ago,” she said.

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Parker said the lack of visibility is a safety concern as her flat overlooks the dark road and park.

“At night the only light I have is the light coming from the robot. We have put a security light up to light up our front lawn and another neighbouring flat has put up a security light on Helen Jospeh Road- that’s the only light we have. I won’t drive out at night anymore I am an 83-year-old woman and I am driving on my own in the dark,” she said.

Another resident on Helen Joseph Road, Errol Meikle, said the Bulwer Park is no longer accessible to residents.

“We use to enjoy walking here, we love the park. My wife won’t go anymore. It’s completely pitch dark. Vagrants sleep in the park at night,” he said.

eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said, “Streetlight vandalism and cable theft remains an issue for the City as criminals continue to damage infrastructure, costing the City millions. We therefore call upon residents to play their part by reporting those who are responsible for this scourge. The City cannot win the fight alone.

Thank you for bringing the matter to our attention. A team will be dispatched to attend to the problem.

We also ask residents to continue reporting street lighting faults to be captured by the Electricity Service Unit by calling the Contact Centre on 0801 313 111.

Residents are to ensure that they provide the operator with as much information as possible, ensuring that the faulted street light/s can be easily located. Relevant information should include the following:

*Street name or closest address to the street light pole.

*Street light pole number

*Description of fault.

Residents should obtain a fault reference number from the operator when they finish logging a fault. This can be used to track the status of the query and all related remedial activities.”

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