Solar power upgrades are under way on major Mbombela routes to cut electricity costs and improve lighting reliability.

Roads in Mbombela where work has been completed include Dr Enos Mabuza Drive, Ferreira Street, Madiba Drive, Old Pretoria Road, Bosch Street and the R40 between Mbombela and White River.

Parts of Hazyview and Barberton are also benefiting, with installations still under way. In White River, most streetlights have been converted to solar-powered lights and are fully functional.

The work forms part of the municipality’s efforts to address the frustration residents have experienced in recent years, with many of these issues previously reported on Lowvelder’s ‘Gatvol’ page.

Municipality plans full solar transition

“The plan is to make sure that all streetlights managed by the municipality are solar-powered. That will save the municipality a lot of money on electricity, as in some instances electric lights are faulty and stay on all day, but with solar we are sure they won’t be costing us,” said City of Mbombela spokesperson Joseph Ngala.

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“We are still appealing to residents to safeguard the infrastructure at all times and report faulty units.”

The streetlight upgrade has been welcomed by many residents, who said the work was long overdue. They had repeatedly called on the municipality to repair faulty or non-functional streetlights.

Mixed reactions in surrounding towns

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White River Ward Councillor Rowan Torr said he could confirm that most streetlights in the area were working, which was what residents wanted.

He added that some were damaged by motorists, and it could take time for the municipality to repair them.

In Barberton, however, some residents said more still needed to be done, as several areas remained dark while only a few had been attended to. Contractors were still on site.