Vandalism halting roads agency projects
Traffic lights and speed warning signs the victims of vandalism.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency is struggling to maintain its projects due to theft or destruction of its equipment.
About two weeks ago the first of 19 solar panels powering traffic lights around Johannesburg had to be removed after thieves allegedly stole all 15 solar cells, and toppled the structure.
This was at the corner of Rabie Street and Monkor Road in Malanshof.
The roads agency’s and motorists’ woes were compounded by the stealing of traffic light equipment and solar panels powering speed warning signs.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or battery backup, equipment has been stolen from at least three traffic lights in Randburg. These are on the corners of Conrad Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue, Malibongwe Drive and Percy Road, and Bram Fischer Drive and Will Scarlet Road.
UPS powers electrical devices when their main power source goes out, ensuring constant power supply.
Solar panels powering speed warning signs have also been stolen around Johannesburg, though the only known instance where this happened in Randburg was in Fontainebleau.
Roads agency spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said, ”Vandalising of solar panels and the associated UPS equipment at traffic signals has reached alarming proportions over the past few months, and consequently the roads agency is investigating the decommissioning of the affected alternative power installations.”
Ward 102 Councillor David Potter said of the solar panels powering speed warning signs, ”It is a brilliant idea but unfortunately it will not be too long before they are taken down.”
Ward 104 Councillor Mike Wood asked residents to be alert and to contact their police sector van or security company if they see any municipal installations being vandalised, and to not get involved themselves.
Details: Johannesburg Roads Agency, 0860 562 874, [email protected]
