Sunninghill resident Tracy Kensey is calling for urgent, long-term solutions to combat the ongoing theft and vandalism of streetlight infrastructure in Sunninghill, saying the problem is placing motorists and pedestrians at risk while making it easier for criminals to operate in darkness.

Kensey said cable theft has become increasingly common, with criminals targeting the electrical cables running between streetlights.

“Vandals are coming through at night, digging up the cables which run from streetlight to streetlight. Currently we have about 470 streetlights not working in Sunninghill.”

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She explained that, while some outages are caused by faulty bulbs, day/night switches, or maintenance issues, vandalism has become a growing concern.

Criminals remove covers from the base of streetlight poles, pull out the wiring and strip the stolen cables nearby.

“The biggest problem is that it’s dark at night because the streetlights don’t work. We need a permanent solution to stop people stealing these cables.”

Kensey also warned of the dangers posed by exposed electrical infrastructure, recalling an incident several years ago in which a child was badly electrocuted after coming into contact with a damaged streetlight.

Linda Gildenhuys, chairperson of the Sunninghill Community Ratepayers Association (SCRA), said streetlight vandalism had plagued the suburb for years, but had worsened significantly in recent months.

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“In our residential areas, many outages are linked to outstanding repairs, but along our main roads the primary cause is vandalism and cable theft.”

She added that the lack of functioning streetlights has become more than an infrastructure issue.

“This is now a public safety issue. Dark streets create opportunities for crime, increase the risk of accidents, housebreakings, smash-and-grabs, and muggings, while exposed electrical infrastructure poses a potentially fatal danger.”

The SCRA said its security partner, Savika Special Ops, conducts regular patrols of hotspot areas and has made several arrests linked to cable theft. However, residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity immediately to improve response times.

In response, Isaac Mangena, general manager of City Power, said, currently, there are no streetlights due for repair in Sunninghill, except for areas where temporary supply has been provided as an interim measure while maintenance work is being scheduled.

“In response to the persistent theft and vandalism of conventional streetlighting infrastructure, City Power has also continued to implement alternative technologies in certain high-risk areas, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights.”

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