Solar panel theft
The Johannesburg Roads Agency removed the solar panel on the corner of Rabie Street and Monkor Road.
The sun will not be powering the traffic light on the corner of Rabie Street and Monkor Road in Malanshof for the foreseeable future.
This is because the traffic light’s solar panel was removed by the Johannesburg Roads Agency, pending a decision to completely decommission the site.
During late November last year unknown vandals removed the 15 solar cells from the solar panel and toppled the structure.
“Solar panels have been installed by the roads agency as an alternative power source at traffic signals to reduce the effect of power failures on traffic signal operations,” said the road agency’s spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers. “Unfortunately in Johannesburg rampant vandalism and theft on our streets has resulted in incidents such as the one reported at the intersection of Monkor Road and Rabie Street in Malanshof.”
Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood asked residents to be alert and to contact their police sector vehicle or security company if they see any municipal installations being vandalised, and to not get involved themselves.
Linden Sector 3 Community Policing Forum committee member John Dott said people would steal anything in the area.
Details: Johannesburg Roads Agency 0860 562 874, hotline@jra.org.za
