Without streetlights for two years
Streetlights have not been working for two years, although they were reported to the Tshwane metro.
Residents of Proclamation Hill are feeling vulnerable as streetlights in their neighbourhood have been out of order for almost two years.
In a dark street, say residents, it is much easier for criminals to break into houses because they could do so unnoticed.
Resident Mike Bosch said quite a few houses in his street had been broken into in recent times.
“It is now two years that we have reported the faulty streetlights in our area, but nothing is happening. A while back there were screams and shouting in the street, it was like someone was getting hijacked.”
Bosch said some residents had opted for installing lights in their backyard in a bid to deter burglars. But setting up your own lighting in the street was not really viable.
“It is fine that we can see behind our houses, but it does not help much if we cannot see in front of houses in the street.”
Bosch said open spaces in the vicinity also provided places to hide for criminals.
SA National Civics Organisation (Sanco) chairman, Nagesh Chetty bemoaned the current state of affairs.
“People pay their rates and taxes every month. The City of Tshwane needs to wake up and start doing its job. Residents cannot sit without streetlights for two years.”
Chetty said residents had reported the streetlights, and so did he, but the metro had been doing nothing. A source of major frustration for them was the fact that some of the streetlights were on during the day.
On a local radio station on Tuesday morning, mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said the metro was doing its best to keep streetlights functioning at all times, to keep the grass in open spaces short and to improve police visibility.
The residents of Proclamation Hill were not impressed, saying not much of these intentions had borne fruit in their area.
Chetty said: “The mayor needs to start acting, or will end up needing the president of our country’s intervention.”
The Tshwane metro has failed to respond to several enquiries on the matter.
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