More than 50 street lights in Ballito’s Ward 6 have been vandalised over the past three months in a suspected attempt to steal copper cables.

While the issue affects the entire ward, councillor Ayabonga Zwane said Madeleine, Ballito and Simbithi Drives are the worst affected.

“This is an ongoing and frustrating situation. We have around 250 street lights in the ward. Just as the majority get repaired, vandalism sets us back,” said Zwane.

“We are not 100% sure on the motive for vandalism, but we believe it is copper theft.”

Ward 6 falls under Cluster F, which also includes wards 4, 21, 22 and 30. The repair team rotates between the wards weekly, when materials and budget are in place.

“This means that if a street light breaks, we must wait for our turn for the team to reach our area,” said Zwane.

“Residents need to understand that, as much as this is a safety concern, repairs cannot happen instantly. We are not the only ward needing attention.”

Neighbouring wards are also affected by targeted vandalism.

Ward 30 councillor, Jack Abrahams, said the streetlights surrounding Townsend Park are often hit within days of repair, while Ward 22 councillor, Privi Makhan, said a particular substation in her ward was recently vandalised.

Ballito Neighbourhood Watch (BNW) chairperson Morne Steffens said they had also seen an increase in theft of the day/night switches on streetlights.

“Not only does it increase replacement costs, but it also allows criminal activity to go unnoticed,” said Steffens.

“We hope KDM realises that leaving sensors within reach is impractical. With Matric Rage and the December holidays approaching, it is crucial that roads are well lit to reduce incidents.”

Zwane urged residents to remain vigilant and report any theft or vandalism to him, the Community Policing Forum, BNW, security companies or police.

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