Mayor Xhakaza tackles R1m vandalism crisis in Kempton Park
"We have built state-of-the-art infrastructure complemented by BRT work over the years, but much of it is being destroyed," Xhakaza said.
Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, took his Mayoral Outreach Programme to the streets of Kempton Park on February 6 to assess critical infrastructure damage.
Accompanied by representatives from the Department of Transport and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), the Mayor’s first stop was the intersection of Zuurfontein Street and Oranjerivier Drive.
While new traffic lights have been installed to manage the heavy flow of traffic, the nearby MA Mkhwanazi Station tells a different story, having fallen victim to severe vandalism.
The Million-Rand Toll
Mayor Xhakaza highlighted the massive financial burden placed on the City by recurring infrastructure theft and accidents.
“We have built state-of-the-art infrastructure complemented by BRT work over the years, but much of it is being destroyed,” Xhakaza said. “A robot of this magnitude costs over R1 million to replace. When you consider that we have to replace them every second month due to cable theft or motorists driving into them, the costs are staggering.”
The delegation also visited the Allandale intersection, a notorious “nightmare” for commuters during peak hours due to non-functional traffic lights. The Mayor confirmed that this site is a priority for upcoming repairs.
Also read: Power-To-Us engages Ekurhuleni Mayor on outages in Bredell, Pomona and Glen Marais
Community Partnerships
The outreach concluded at Klipfontein Sand and Stone, where the Mayor was joined by Ward 12 Councillor Gloria Ndinisa and Ward 13 Councillor Bulelwa Ngqwangi to discuss the area’s vulnerability to cable theft.
A significant highlight of the day was the commitment from Hope Restoration Ministries. Pastor Chris Mathebula, whose office overlooks the busy streets, offered to collaborate with the City to assist with security for the local station and traffic lights.
“It pains me to go out there and help a mother who just lost her child due to these robots not working,” said Mathebula. “I spoke to the Mayor in December and January, and I am grateful he honored his promise to come today. This should be the beginning of many things.”
