The City of Mbombela (CoM) has embarked on a project to repair at least 284 streetlights across the municipality.

However, municipal manager, Wiseman Khumalo, stressed that this is not about responding to the Gatvol campaign, but fulfilment of the municipality’s promise to serve its people.

He said the CoM acknowledges that Mbombela is one of the ultimate tourism destinations “and we plan to make sure that it stays that way.”

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Khumalo said repairs of faulty streetlights already commenced a while ago with the removal of old fittings.

“We installed new energy-saving lights on some key streets and, despite challenges, the rest of the non-functioning lights will be repaired and switched on in due course,” he said.

He emphasised that the CoM serves 45 wards and not just Mbombela.

“We are going to all areas with faulty streetlights.”

Khumalo also said it could take some time to repair all of them.

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He called on communities to play their role in ensuring the infrastructure is taken care of and to report any illegal activities.

Khumalo admitted the CoM knows some community members have lost hope in them, “but the municipality did not resent them.”

He said people, car accidents and cable theft are responsible for the faulty streetlights.

He promised regular maintenance and response to any reported faulty lights.