Broken street lights a safety risk in Avoca
Ward 34 Councillor Bobby Maharajh said a woman who was hit by a motorist might still be alive if the street lights had been working sooner.
BROKEN street lights have ignited concerns in Avoca after a pedestrian was mugged on Tyne Avenue. This comes just a few weeks after a woman was hit by a motorist on the corner of Old North Coast Road and Prince Mhlangana Road.
While the lights have since been repaired, Ward 34 Councillor Bobby Maharajh said the woman might still be alive if the street lights had been working sooner. Lighting issues had been ongoing for at least two years on Prince Mhlangana Road, added Maharajh.
Also read: Broken street lights breed crime on Riverside Road
“Out of the blue, the entire road was in total darkness from the corner (of old North Coast Road) as far as you could see. It came to a head one night at about 9.30pm. I received a message on WhatsApp that a woman had been hit on the corner of Old North Coast Road and Prince Mhlangana Road. What hit me the most was that she was killed, not by the motorist that hit her, but by the vehicles behind that did not see her because of the total darkness,” he said.
“Motor accidents are part and parcel of our lives, but when a person dies not because of the motor accident, but because of another factor, and in this case, because of total darkness, that is not acceptable to me,” he added.
The accident spurred Maharajh to “make a bigger noise” about the issue.
“I took it right to the top. About a month ago, the head of the Electricity Department gave me the number for the superintendent who told me there were 12 trucks for the north area. He said all 12 trucks were out of service. I went to speak to the manager of the city fleet. Eventually a couple of the trucks were back on the road, but they seem to be going to Durban North and uMhlanga,” he said.
The lights were finally repaired two weeks ago.
Rose Moodley who has been a resident in the area for more than 60 years, said: “As I am driving a car at this age I do feel for my safety and other’s safety as well. We are losing part of our sight and these lights do help. I think lights on the road are essential for older drivers. I use this road often when I go shopping. My compliments go to Councillor Maharajh who is working alone here and to the department for doing their job after the councillor put pressure on them.”
Also read: Widespread streetlight faults cause concern in eMdloti
Maharajh is now trying to get the lights repaired on Tyne Avenue where residents have raised safety concerns.
“A gentleman called me about three weeks ago to say his daughter was mugged twice. To him it is very clear that we don’t have enough street lights. The bush along the road lends itself to an escalation in crime,” he said.
Commenting on the Tyne Avenue streetlights, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said: “Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. In order for street lighting faults to be captured by the Electricity Service Unit, residents should call the Contact Centre on 0801 313 111.” To report a fault, include the street name, pole number and description of fault.
“Residents should obtain a fault reference number from the operator when they finish logging a fault. This can be used to track the status of the query and all related remedial activities. This matter has been noted and forwarded to the relevant Department to be resolved,” added Mayisela.
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