Private businesses jump into protecting traffic signals in Fourways
The Adopt and Protect a Robot campaign allows private companies to adopt and protect traffic lights, with the goal of reducing vandalism and theft. It was officially launched on November 27, with the MEC for Gauteng Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.
The Adopt and Protect a Robot campaign took root in February when David Foley, the councillor for Ward 94, initiated a gathering of local private companies to address the issue of traffic lights in the vicinity of their businesses.
This effort was part of a broader mission, under the Fourways Improvement District, a non-profit organisation, to tackle service delivery challenges in the area.
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The collaboration aimed not only to enhance the efficiency of traffic management but also to promote a sense of community responsibility among local establishments.
Just a few months later, Foley took note of the frustrating crisis in his ward, where he learned that 19 traffic lights were malfunctioning and out of order, creating a chaotic and unsafe environment for drivers and pedestrians alike.
When he approached the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department to get the traffic lights back on, he said he was told about budget constraints.
However, when he suggested the Adopt and Protect a Robot campaign as a solution, the department quickly jumped on his proposal to improve turnaround times and prevent theft and vandalism, amongst other challenges, by inviting companies from the private sector to adopt and protect a robot.
The campaign was officially launched on November 27 and saw the MEC for Gauteng Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale Tlabela, in attendance, as well as representatives from the private sector companies at Fourways Mall.
Steyn City Properties adopted the traffic lights on Winnie Mandela Drive and Erling Road, and have already started digging to transfer the control box into their property.
“We are currently putting the cabling into the lights and the control box is going to be moved to a secure location where it will be continually powered as well. We are going to have three sources of power, Eskom, a generator, and solar power which means they will always be powered. We have cameras in the area to monitor them,” said the CEO of Steyn City Properties, Steven Louw.
Foley said the initiative is good for the economy of the area and promotes safety.
“People who are drinking during the weekend and then knock out the traffic lights, as indicated in the portfolio committee head, will be responsible for the restoration of the intersection as part of their insurance claims.”
Diale-Tlabela said the department manages in excess of 400 traffic signals at various intersections. R30m was disbursed in the first year of the three-year contract to repair or replace the signals.
“We are also exploring the utilisation of drone monitoring for traffic signals. More than 100 foot patrollers will complement the adopt a robot initiative by safeguarding signals from theft and vandalism and restoring the technical integrity of vandalised traffic signals infrastructure.”
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