Residents who have long complained about broken streetlights are now facing a new problem, lights that won’t switch off.

After months of frustration over dark streets, most of the faulty lights have recently been repaired, with some still in the process of being fixed. Ward councillor Elaine Rodway spearheaded efforts to address the issue, citing serious safety concerns for residents and public infrastructure. Poor lighting had raised fears about crime, especially near substations and other key installations vulnerable to vandalism and cable theft.

When the lights were restored, the community welcomed the improvement.

Controller fault leaves lights burning

But relief has quickly turned to irritation. For weeks, many of the repaired streetlights have reportedly been burning day and night without switching off. Residents say the lights stay on throughout daylight hours, calling it wasteful and unnecessary at a time when electricity costs continue to rise.

According to inside information, the streetlight ‘controller’, the device that regulates when the lights switch on and off, has been out of order for some time. The faulty controller is believed to be the reason the lights are operating 24 hours a day.

Residents demand transparency and action

The situation has sparked questions from ratepayers. How much is this round-the-clock electricity use costing the municipality, and ultimately the public? And why is it taking so long to repair or replace the controller?

While improved lighting has enhanced safety at night, residents are now demanding answers. They are calling for transparency about the financial impact of the malfunction and a clear timeline for repairs to ensure the system runs efficiently as intended.

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.