JRA highlights urgent need to combat traffic signal theft and vandalism
JRA is taking action against traffic signal vandalism, with partnerships and innovative solutions aimed at safeguarding critical road infrastructure.
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and the Gauteng Department of Road and Transport (GDRT) held a media briefing on July 14 at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre to discuss the ongoing issues of traffic light vandalism.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) Head of Department Sipho Nhlapo highlighted the numerous traffic signals in the vast road network that regulate flow, and ensure safety. “Johannesburg currently has 2 279 traffic signalised intersections, each playing a critical role in managing vehicular and pedestrian movement across the city. Of these, about 2 028 signals are under direct purview of JRA, strategically placed at intersections within the municipal road network.”
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He highlighted the scale of the challenge, stating that they manage a lot of moving parts in the network, be they a switch or a cable. He emphasised the critical role traffic lights play in facilitating emergency services and enhancing road safety. “This city is very complex, in terms of the number of vehicles we are dealing with. If everyone abides by the law, safety improves on our road network.”
Nhlapo pointed out that the theft of infrastructure is not a service delivery failure, noting that newly installed traffic lights can be vandalised within weeks. “For example, we built a traffic light on Malibongwe Drive, and within two weeks, it was gone. We built an intersection there, and again, all the cables were taken.
“The cost to repair these intersections can range from R550 000 to R1.5m, depending on the complexity of the site. If we can eliminate theft and vandalism, we would be able to achieve a much higher service level.”
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To combat these challenges, JRA has established several strategies, including:
- Third-party, secondary power supply partnerships with businesses,
- Over 110 sites adopted and completed across the CoJ municipality,
- About 50 private companies with concluded service level agreements (SLA),
- Underground safety chambers: Controller brackets and supporting security systems to prevent theft and vandalism of signal infrastructure, and
- Reduced copper content cables and thickness.
On the underground chamber, Nhlapo said that water will not seep into it, and that it was coupled with a back-up power battery. “When you walk past it, it will be unnoticeable, because of it being underground, in order to protect infrastructure. We should have more of them. We also installed CCTV cameras to add more security to prevent theft and vandalism.”
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JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi highlighted the significance of surveillance and community reporting in tackling these issues. “As government officials, we need to fix this problem. Reporting has assisted us as part of active citizenry, which will improve our turnaround times.” He acknowledged that vandalism hampers the agency’s ability to meet agreed-upon service standards and turnaround times.
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