Broken streetlights a concern in Pretoria
“Criminals see this as an opportunity and use the darkness to their advantage.”
A Moot resident said he has so many reference numbers for reporting broken streetlights in the area that he no longer knows which one is the latest.
Some of these streetlights have been off for years now, according to resident Dirk Joubert.
Joubert was especially concerned about the broken streetlights in Stead Avenue, which later becomes Codonia Avenue, between Pierneef Street and Soutpansberg Road.
This stretch of road is 1.4 kilometres long.
“This has become a safety concern for residents,” he said.
“Criminals see this as an opportunity and use the darkness to their advantage.”
He said not crime was not the only problem, but added that road accidents were also high in that area because of poor visibility.
READ MORE: Clean-up operation around Moot mountain
Local ward councillor, Roelof Fourie said he was aware of the faulty streetlights at that stretch of road.
“I do not think all the lights are out, but I know it is a substantial amount of lights,” he said.
“There are also many other streetlights that are off in other areas and we know this is a big problem.”
He said the issue have been escalated as high as possible.
“It has been escalated to the mayor’s office,” he said.
“The district head said that streetlights were a priority for them.”
“I believe that one day we will win this fight.”
Another resident, Ben Crous, said faulty streetlights were a problem in the area.
Crous lives in Kilnerpark and said there were several faulty streetlights that he was aware of.
READ MORE: Moot sidewalk champions announced
“This becomes a major concern for residents because it simply is not safe when it is that dark outside,” he said.
Crous said that he has reported the problem to the metro many times, but it was to no avail.
“I do not understand why it is so difficult to fix a streetlight and why we must wait so long,” he said.
“Especially when a person’s safety is on the line.”
In the meantime, AfriForum’s East Moot neighbourhood watch along with a Waverley resident has started a project to identify broken streetlights in the Moot.
Neighbourhood watch members, led by resident Chris Jordaan, drive through the neighbourhoods at their own and record every street light that doesn’t work, said neighbourhood watch chairman, Andries Opperman.
READ
“Chris saw a problem and just simply decided to do something about it and then a few more people came and they offered help,” he said.
Jordaan said someone driving along making notes about the faulty street lights and their numbers.
READ MORE: Two injured in Moot collision
This information is then entered into a database.
“This information is passed on to the municipality, councillors and the metro’s local chief executive,” he said.
“We truly believe that this will make a positive difference in the area.”
The Tshwane metro did not comment at the time of going to press.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
Rekord East
Rekord North
Rekord Centurion
Rekord Moot
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
