#Letters: Out of order, out of excuses – Ballito’s broken traffic lights need action

Despite months of persistent issues, KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) remains unable to repair even a single dysfunctional traffic light across the municipality. Traffic signals are either knocked over by motorists or become defective over time, yet the municipality has failed to carry out the necessary repairs.

An agreement exists between the Department of Transport and KDM, wherein the municipality’s Electrical Business Unit is responsible for repairing faulty traffic lights or appointing a contractor to do so. However, many traffic lights have remained out of order since the second quarter of the current financial year, with no visible progress.

Alarmingly, the budget allocation for the upcoming financial year remains unchanged at R2-million – despite clear evidence that this amount is insufficient. As the DA caucus, we have formally objected to the draft budget in its current form and submitted detailed inputs. We strongly urge the municipality to reconsider and increase funding for critical infrastructure, including electricity, street lighting and traffic signal maintenance.

The failure to act points to poor planning, lack of accountability and an indifference to the daily frustrations experienced by residents.

In response, councillors representing affected wards have launched a campaign and petition demanding urgent intervention. Motorists are fed up with long delays during peak hours, and it is time KDM takes responsibility for resolving this basic service delivery failure.

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