Broken streetlights put residents at risk

Strelitzia, a residential complex on Jacob Street, has always prided itself on being a calm haven for its residents. Unfortunately, lacking repair and maintenance of streetlights by City Power is resulting in a rise in crime at the complex.

According to Rose Koen, caretaker at the usually quiet complex, rapid development of the area has resulted in more traffic and movement, and this has resulted in more crime in recent years.

The situation is worsened by the failure of City Power to effectively maintain streetlights that surround the complex, specifically on Jacob Street, where criminals exploit the fact that it is quiet, to target residents.

“We’ve had such a hard time getting the entity to take the broken street lights seriously,” she says.

“And when they eventually came out, they did a shoddy job, resulting in the street lights starting to flicker and then going out completely within just a few hours of them being repaired.”

Koen accompanied the Roodepoort Record on a visit to the street, pointing out the shoddy repairs done by City Power.

“The covers that house wiring of the street lights were not properly secured after the initial repair, where criminals stole switches from within the poles.

“When I got home from visiting with family one Sunday, I was so happy to see that the lights had been repaired, however, instead of coming on properly, the lights came on dimly, started flickering, and eventually just went out.

“This leaves us right back at square one, after weeks of trying to get the lights fixed.”

Koen adds that the complex has seen numerous break-ins and petty thefts occur over the past year.

“As residents, we do whatever we can to secure our units, and for the most part, it is effective.

“Unfortunately, without working street lights, there is nothing to deter criminals.”

The Record has posed questions to City Power regarding the repair and maintenance of streetlights in Jacob Street and will add their answers when received.