Gauteng roads department plans legal claim against motorist over damaged traffic signals in Wilgeheuwel

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport plans to institute a claim against a motorist allegedly responsible for damaging traffic-signal infrastructure at the intersection of Hendrik Potgieter Road and Nic Diederichs Boulevard in Wilgeheuwel.

According to MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, the department will seek to recover the costs of repairing and restoring the damaged infrastructure, subject to applicable legal and evidentiary requirements.

Diale-Tlabela noted that vehicle-related damage, vandalism and theft of traffic signals are placing significant pressure on public resources.

“Some traffic signals are not simply old or faulty. Infrastructure is being vandalised, cables are being stolen, illegal connections are being made, and in some cases, traffic signal infrastructure is damaged in vehicle crashes,” she said.

She added that funds earmarked for improving road infrastructure are instead being diverted to repair preventable damage, which undermines efforts to provide safe and efficient roads across Gauteng.

Under the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act, a court may, following a conviction, order an offender to compensate the MEC or to repair, remove or restore damaged provincial infrastructure.

To combat the issue, the department is piloting alternative monitoring technologies to detect theft, vandalism and collisions at provincial intersections in real time. According to the department, three motorists involved in alleged drunk-driving incidents that resulted in road infrastructure damage have been identified to date.

Diale-Tlabela urged residents to report suspicious activity, theft and damage to traffic signals immediately, while warning motorists against driving under the influence of alcohol.

Reporting damage

Residents can report broken, faulty or damaged traffic signals directly to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport at TrafficSignals@gauteng.gov.za.