Fourways traffic lights fail again, after just 2 weeks
Councillor David Foley attributes the malfunctioning traffic lights to the practice of tipping informal traffic directors, suggesting that it incentivises them to tamper with the lights to maintain their source of income.
Residents of Fourways are up in arms after traffic lights at key intersections on Winnie Mandela Drive – specifically Leslie Avenue and Uranium Road – have stopped working, a mere two weeks after their much-anticipated restoration.
The traffic lights, which were revamped with advanced safety features after a long wait, ceased functioning due to alleged tampering by ‘hobo cops’, informal traffic directors, seeking to profit from motorists’ tips.
The situation has caused outrage and finger-pointing among residents in community groups, with Ward 94 councillor David Foley promising to investigate the matter further.
Also read: JRA agrees to work with Gauteng transport department to fix broken traffic lights
Foley has been a vocal advocate for resolving the traffic light chaos in Fourways, particularly since last year when most of the lights stopped working. He spearheaded the Adopt and Protect a Robot campaign, which gained approval from the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department.
The campaign is a public-private partnership aimed at addressing issues with dysfunctional traffic lights and road infrastructure
Foley also suggested the hand-over of management of the traffic lights to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), which was successfully implemented earlier this year, but now, it seems he is fighting a losing battle.
Also read: Ward 94 Cllr is still driving Fourways traffic lights issues
“The hobo cops take this as their main source of income. If the traffic lights are working, then it means they do not have any means of making money. That is why we keep on advising motorists to stop tipping them.”
While many residents initially welcomed the functioning traffic lights, a sense of skepticism lingered, with most expecting the reprieve to be short-lived. Unfortunately, their concerns proved all too accurate.
“I don’t know what’s more frustrating, the lights not working, or the uncertainty of when they’ll fail again,” said Karbo Eland, a motorist.
Read more: City Power’s turnaround time to fix streetlights explained
Foley said he is not giving up his fight for working traffic lights in Fourways. “We have installed cameras and we will investigative. My wish is for us to have a law that sends people who tamper with traffic lights to jail for at least 15 years. Maybe that will help.
“We are negotiating with businesses to adopt the traffic lights, so, when they steal the cables, at least they have back power from the business to keep working, until the cables are replaced.”
Foley is pleading with motorists to stop tipping the informal traffic directors, so they do not have a reason to tamper with the traffic lights. “Please refrain from tipping them. We are hoping that JRA is going to fix [the lights], because they are critical intersections.”
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