Persistent theft and vandalism of traffic signals in the province have resulted in widespread service disruptions, increased safety risks, and escalating maintenance costs, according to the MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.

The MEC said that in line with the Gauteng Infrastructure Act, vandalism of public infrastructure is a criminal offence, and “the department will work with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“The department will also intensify efforts to quantify and recover financial losses resulting from infrastructure damage.”

She encouraged communities to play an active role by reporting vandalism, criminal activity and faulty infrastructure to the relevant authorities.

Diale-Tlabela said this during a stakeholder engagement meeting with law-enforcement agencies and municipalities across the province.

She said the meeting was aimed at intensifying co-ordinated efforts to address road safety challenges, infrastructure failures, and the ongoing theft and vandalism of traffic signals across the province.

“We hosted the meeting following sustained engagements and concerns raised by communities regarding non-functional traffic signals, inadequate streetlighting, incidents of crime along key transport corridors, and delays in law-enforcement response.”

She said the stakeholders and the department are exploring various interventions to restore functionality, safeguard critical road infrastructure, and prevent further vandalism.

Diale-Tlabela said Gauteng has about 4 500 traffic intersections, of which the department is responsible for 547.

“The theft and vandalism of traffic signals is a direct threat to road safety, economic activity and service delivery,” she explained.

She said the engagement reflects the firm commitment to protecting public infrastructure, restoring traffic signal functionality, and ensuring safer roads for all road users in Gauteng.

“We also acknowledge that road safety challenges extend beyond infrastructure alone. They require a co-ordinated, integrated response from all spheres of government and law-enforcement agencies to ensure safer communities and reliable transport systems,” the MEC explained.

She further emphasised that the failure of road infrastructure presents not only a safety risk but also a significant economic challenge. It contributes to congestion, delays and financial losses, while placing additional strain on public resources due to high repair and replacement costs.

“We will be convening a high-level stakeholder session bringing together law enforcement, municipalities and private sector partners, including insurers, to drive a co-ordinated response to infrastructure vandalism and road safety challenges.

She said the engagement culminated in a joint implementation roadmap with clear accountability and a unified provincial position for rollout.

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