Street poles are often cut down, damaged or stripped of its cables as the copper is sold as scrap metal. This also creates a favourable environment for criminals to operate in at night and according to Labuschagne, City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) officials seem unable to look after its infrastructure and assets.

According to SAPS Nigel police spokesperson Sgt Nellie Dwaba, cable theft and infrastructure damage (such as damaged street lights) should be reported by the municipality to the police, but in recent years, no such cases have been reported.

Residents from Beverly Road in Ferryvale and Graaf Reinet Street are left angered and frustrated as they still require assistance regarding non-functioning street lights. Dozens of street lights in Alrapark, including a high mast light in MacKenzieville are also still not working.

When Labuschagne enquired about the faulty street lights during March, he was informed by CoE officials that they had only one vehicle available in Springs and one in Nigel and that the other vehicles were in the mechanical workshop for repairs.

“In recent answers to questions submitted to council, the MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Tiisetso Nketle admitted that the Springs Energy Depot did not have sufficient stock during the past year and she blamed it on procurement delays,” Labuschagne said.

He encouraged residents to communicate these reference numbers to his office, should the work to be done after a period of two weeks.

HERAUT is still awaiting a response from the CoE spokesperson.