Bryanston streetlight outages expose wider challenge for City Power
City Power says the streetlight outage on Bryanston Drive was caused by cable theft and vandalism, crimes that continue to disrupt public lighting infrastructure across Johannesburg.
The restoration of streetlights along Bryanston Drive has brought relief to residents who spent months living in dark streets, but City Power warns that the problem extends far beyond a single neighbourhood.
According to City Power, investigations into the recurring outages that left parts of Bryanston Drive in darkness have revealed that cable theft and vandalism were the cause of the failures.
The issue first came to public attention after resident Paul Turner raised concerns about streetlights outside his property that had repeatedly failed despite repair efforts earlier this year.
“The streetlights are a safety factor,” Turner said. “All three outside my property are out now. I would appreciate City Power getting a move on and sorting this problem out.”
Read more: City Power restores Bryanston streetlights, but vandalism threat remains
Turner said the lights had been off since February, with repairs restoring the power for only a few weeks before the outages returned in March.
Following the media enquiry on June 9, City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed on June 10 that the technical team had been dispatched to investigate and repair the fault.
“Before this media enquiry, there was no service request logged on its system for the streetlights in question by the resident,” Mangena said.
He added that the last recorded work undertaken at the location was completed on December 28, 2025, under reference number CSDFMC0147215.
“While residents indicated that repairs were undertaken in February 2026, these were carried out following an escalation linked to a previously existing reference number rather than through a newly logged service request.
“On June 10, our technicians successfully repaired and restored the affected streetlights. The investigation revealed that the fault was caused by cable theft and vandalism, which had damaged the public lighting. Following the repairs, power supply to the affected streetlights was restored.”
However, Mangena cautioned that the Bryanston Drive incident reflects a wider problem across Johannesburg, where public lighting infrastructure is increasingly being targeted by criminals.
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“Criminals frequently target streetlight infrastructure to steal valuable components, including aerial bundle cables (ABC) and luminaire parts. These stolen parts, including ABC, which are durable and easily accessible, are often used in illegal electricity connections.
“Streetlights are being damaged to create dark areas, allowing criminals to carry out illegal activities such as robbery, burglary, and hijackings without detection.”
In response, Mangena said they are exploring measures aimed at improving infrastructure security and public lighting.
“We are investing in off-grid LED public lighting, which will not only improve illumination across key areas but also help reduce the opportunity for crime. This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to safeguard both our infrastructure and the safety of the city’s residents.”
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