The metro repaired several broken streetlights in Amos Street in Colbyn last week, promising to fix more in the months to come.
The repairs followed complaints by residents worried about crime. The regional maintenance team carried out the repairs, according to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.
He said five streetlights were damaged.
“Two of them needed a wire replacement and another two needed a globe replacement,” he said.
“We had to install a new control box at one of them.”
Local resident Malcom Nebel said the lights had been out for over three months.
This street was, however, not the only one in the Moot area with broken streetlamps.
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“Walking to my car after leaving the college at night, it is very dark and I have to use my cellphone’s flashlight to see where I am going,” said Aloisia Sutton.
She was referring to streetlights in Dickenson Avenue and Tom Street, which had been out for more than a year.
Sutton is a student at a Waverley college and was concerned about possible crime in the area.
“One evening, a security guard even had to escort me to my car,” she said.
Sutton said the security guard told her the matter had been reported to the metro “several times”, but nothing had been done about the problem.
“It is very dangerous,” she said.
“I believe criminals could use the darkness to their advantage.”
Villieria police spokesperson Captain Coba Brits, however, said there had been no increase in crime in the area because of broken streetlights.
“An increase in crime could not always be connected to broken streetlights,” said Brits.
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Despite this, she urged residents to always be vigilant – especially when it was dark.
Ward councillor Frans Smith said he was aware of the broken streetlights in the area.
“These streets are not only ones with broken streetlights,” he said.
He added that the streetlights were out throughout his ward.
“Streetlights from Codonia Avenue to Darling Street have become a headache,” he said.
Smith said he did regular patrols throughout his ward to see where the problems were.
It was not only broken streetlights which were an issue, but a lot of overgrown grass as well.
“I am positive these issues will be resolved soon,” he said.
Mashigo said the metro was busy with repairs on other related infrastructure which needed attention.
“We wish to apologise for the delay in attending to this matter,” he said.
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