ANGRY, frustrated and fed-up were just some of the words used by eMdloti resident, Bev Kirby, in her six month battle with the eThekwini Municipality to fix street lights in the area. Kirby said more than 15 street lights on Bellamont Road and Jabu Ngcobo Drive had been affected.

“I have reported this to the electricity department numerous times with different cell numbers. I was given the cell phone numbers of two gentlemen in charge of the project and phoned them frequently, but they could not give me an answer or a solution to the problem,” she said.

Kirby was then told to phone another official in charge of street lighting.

“When I phoned him, he told me they were not going to repair any of these lights unless the eMdloti community gets together and organises security patrols around the street lights to protect them against cable theft. He then suggested phoning the local councillor who has done nothing,” the exasperated resident said.

“I suggested removing the wooden poles where the wires run down the side and replace them with metal ones, where the wiring runs down the middle. We pay our rates every month and I don’t see why we can’t have poles replaced since it has been done in other areas.”

Last month a Buttery Road resident also complained about faulty street lights which were out for more than a month in the uMgeni Park area. He said his calls to the municipality were also ignored.

Though there has been no official response from the municipality, a member from the electricity department said he had been advised by management not to repair/replace any street light faults due to cable theft.