Eldoraigne residents have endured dark streets for several years due to broken streetlights, cable theft, and vandalism.

Rather than relying solely on the municipality for repairs, communities have been working together to address the issue through a series of Community Upliftment Precinct (CUP) initiatives.
Councillor Cindy Billson explained that the four separate CUP initiatives are at various stages of completion and demonstrate how residents can partner with the city to solve local challenges.

“Our first CUP initiative was in Uitsig Park, which began two years ago and has now been completed,” she said.

Billson stated that residents of Uitsig Park funded the project themselves by purchasing the materials and tools needed to repair the streetlights, setting an example for similar projects elsewhere in the ward.

The second initiative, Eldo Urban CUP, was launched in 2025 after residents sought a solution to repair streetlights that had left parts of the neighbourhood in darkness.

“Community members sourced the globes, while the municipality assisted by providing a cherry picker to safely carry out the repairs,” she said.

Although progress has been made, some streets still require attention, and some repaired lights have failed again, necessitating further municipal intervention.

Since the initiative began, repair work has been completed on sections of Frederik Avenue, Martha Road, and Van Der Merwe Avenue through ongoing engagement with the city’s electricity department.

In Frederik Avenue, where streetlights had been out of service for months, the restored lighting has significantly improved visibility and safety for motorists, pedestrians, and residents travelling at night.

However, much work remains before the area’s streetlight network is fully restored, with Nina Road, Rabie Street, and Erasmus Avenue among the streets still awaiting repairs.

Another neighbourhood taking active steps is Eldo Manor, where residents have adopted a different approach.

Billson explained that the Eldo Manor CUP, which also started last year, initially focused on repairing mini substations and trip switches to ensure the supporting electrical infrastructure was functioning properly.

Only then did they move on to addressing cable faults and replacing failed globes with LED lighting where necessary.

Roger Jacobs, chairman of the Eldo 3 Manor Residents Association, said residents decided to become directly involved in restoring the area’s streetlights after years of poor functionality.

He detailed that the project was also divided into two phases. During the first phase, residents repaired mini substations by replacing faulty daylight sensors, electrical contactors, trip switches, and damaged wiring.

“The work was carried out with the municipality’s approval and under the supervision of an electrician, Rudi Britz,” he explained.

Jacobs noted that while the repairs to the electrical infrastructure restored some functionality, only about half of the streetlights are currently operational.

The project has now moved into a more technically demanding second phase, during which each streetlight pole is being inspected to determine whether the fault lies with the globe, trip switch or underground cabling.

“We have been studying solutions implemented in other areas to identify the most sustainable types of globes while ensuring they meet approved municipal standards. We plan to make significant progress in the coming months.”

The latest initiative is the Ward 69 CUP, which aims to cover the broader ward, consisting of Eldoraigne, Simarlo Agricultural Holdings and Rooihuiskraal North. Billson explained that the newly approved project operates on two parallel levels.

“The first focuses on restoring existing streetlight infrastructure through volunteer inspections to identify necessary repairs. Work began intentionally on streets with shorter lamp posts that could be repaired without a cherry picker. Drienie Street has already been completed, and Kort Street is next in line,” she stated.

She added that the second level introduces solar-powered lighting units mounted onto existing municipal streetlight poles without interfering with the city’s electrical infrastructure.

Billson noted that several streets have already benefited from the solar initiative, with work currently underway on Evander Street in Rooihuiskraal, where installations have proven more technically challenging than in previous locations.

According to Billson, the completed projects have already had a noticeable impact.

“The projects have significantly improved visibility, pedestrian and road safety, and general security in these areas. These initiatives have also boosted community confidence by demonstrating what can be achieved when residents, the city, and elected representatives work together.”

Despite the progress, she acknowledged that major challenges remain. Cable theft, vandalism, ageing infrastructure and limited municipal resources continue to slow the restoration of streetlights across the ward. While some faults are relatively simple to repair, others require extensive cable replacement or major infrastructure upgrades.

“Although the CUP process is not quick, every completed street shows that steady progress is possible through collaboration between communities and the city. Residents should never underestimate what they can achieve when they work together through the correct processes,” she said.

Billson emphasised that CUP initiatives are not intended to replace the municipality’s responsibility to maintain infrastructure but rather to provide a practical way for residents to partner with the city in solving local challenges.

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