Thousands petition for streetlight repairs in Centurion
Residents in Centurion are at their wits’ end and demand action on non-functioning streetlights that have affected them for several years.
More than 5 000 frustrated residents of Centurion have signed a petition to address the persistent issue of non-functional streetlights in their communities.
This growing concern has become a significant safety hazard, which has led to dark and unsafe areas that heighten the risk of crime, including housebreaking and hijackings.
Ward 69 Councillor Cindy Billson said that 5 291 residents have signed the petition, with about 2 000 signatures coming from her ward alone.
“In the entire ward, there are about 34% working streetlights,” she stated.
Billson highlighted the severity of the problem, as a large number of non-functioning streetlights have plagued Centurion for several years.
“The non-functioning streetlights create dark and unsafe areas while also increasing the risk of crime,” she said.
She added that streetlights play an essential role in ensuring that there is visibility in high-traffic areas and intersections.
Ward 64 Councillor Alta de Kock also confirmed that more than 1 000 individuals in her ward have also signed the petition.
“The purpose of the petition is to have more numbers so that the issue of the streetlights can be addressed,” she said.
De Kock noted that a larger number of signatures would provide stronger backing to demonstrate the seriousness of the problem.
Among the residents who have signed the petition is Surita Lynaad from The Reeds, who expressed her frustration about the situation.
“This has been a long-standing problem for many of us on Sylvie Street, where most streetlights are not operating.”
Lynaad noted that the darkness has contributed to an increase in crime, as well as making it unsafe for children to play outside.
She hopes the petition will bring the issue to the attention of higher authorities, including the national government so they can help facilitate a resolution.
“If the government can see how much of a huge problem this is, maybe they can come up with a long-term resolution to address the matter.”
She added that the entire community is affected badly.
“Once it gets dark and you’re still on the road, you feel very uneasy because of anything that can happen since it’s dark.”
A resident from Rooihuiskraal, Jacob Aries, also shared his extreme frustration regarding the matter.
“It’s unacceptable that we have to live in fear because the streetlights are not working.
I’ve seen suspicious activities happening near my home once it gets dark, and it feels like we are living in a lawless area.”
Aries stated that the lack of lighting not only poses a threat to personal safety but also diminishes the quality of life in the community.
“We should be able to walk our dogs or even jog in the evening, but now we have to worry about our safety instead,” he added.
In Ward 57, Councillor David Farquharson estimated around 40% of the streetlights are functional.
He emphasised that there are some streets where no functioning streetlights exist at all.
Image: File
Meanwhile, Councillor Themba Fosi from Ward 48 explained that the petition was not merely ward-based but rather a collective Centurion approach, as the streetlight issue is region-wide.
He mentioned that the petition has already been submitted to Tshwane and will be formally presented to the council at the next special council meeting.
“We have under 30% of streetlights working in the ward, and this excludes the provincial roads including the R101 and R55.”
Fosi also highlighted specific challenges hindering the repair or maintenance of streetlights in the Centurion area, including budget constraints and a shortage of technicians dedicated to these repairs.
Despite repair efforts from the Tshwane metro in some wards around Centurion, the city continues to encounter some significant challenges.
Early this year, in January, Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by the metro in repairing faulty streetlights.
He revealed that out of 6 302 streetlights reported as faulty last year, 2 855 have been repaired since July 2024, though many issues persist.
Mashigo detailed that repairs were done across several wards in Region 4, with Ward 57 seeing 598 streetlights restored, while Ward 66 managed to get 319 back in working order.
Other wards also made strides, with Ward 61 achieving the repair of 441 streetlights, Ward 65 completing 140, and Ward 70 finishing 265 repairs.
However, despite these efforts, he noted that the lack of management acumen and control over the contractors responsible for streetlight maintenance has impeded progress.
He said that one of the biggest challenges is the lack of resources such as artisans, tools, and cherry pickers.
“Lack of material and funding continues to exacerbate the situation,” he said.
“An amount of about R35 000 is allocated to the Energy and Electricity Department Region 4 for tools. A single 11KV link stick costs more than R35 000, which means that only small tools could be purchased.”
Mashigo highlighted that the region’s streetlight maintenance team comprises only 18 electricians, which is inadequate given the extensive repair needs.
He explained that regular faults are not as simple as just replacing the globes; they involve various issues such as control gear, circuit breakers, and wiring.
“Challenges such as overgrown trees and vehicle incursions frequently lead to outages, complicating the repair process even further.”
Despite these challenges, he added that the metro has plans to upgrade the existing streetlight infrastructure to improve reliability and efficiency.
“There is a potential introduction of solar and LED lighting. However, budget constraints continue to pose significant obstacles.
We have many plans in place, but financial limitations hinder our ability to execute them fully,” added Mashigo.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around streetlight infrastructure, especially during the night.
“We have standby personnel available for after-hour repairs, and we encourage the public to report any suspicious activities with accurate location of the activity.”
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