Inadequate street lighting in Kelvin endangers residents lives
Crime increases between Old Pretoria Main Road and South Way in Kelvin as thugs take advantage of the dark caused by the non-functioning streetlights.
Kelvin residents are expressing growing concern about the lack of adequate street lighting at the intersection of Old Pretoria Main Road and South Way.
The darkness has reportedly led to an increase in criminal activities, including muggings and other safety threats, leaving pedestrians and motorists vulnerable.
Local resident Sarah Mukwathi said: “It’s very unsettling. Once it gets dark, you’re walking into a danger zone. There have been several incidents of muggings in this area, and it’s only getting worse because of the poor lighting.”
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City Power has acknowledged these issues and provided an update on their efforts to address the problem. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena explained that maintenance plans are underway. “Yes, maintenance plans are in place for the entire stretch of Old Pretoria Main Road, which is a continuation of Louis Botha Avenue. Repairs began at the corner of Arkwright and Old Pretoria roads (Louis Botha), heading towards Johannesburg. Once that section is complete, work will continue from Arkwright towards Midrand along Old Pretoria Road.”
Mangena said vandalism, theft of infrastructure components like aerial bundle cables, poles, and luminaires, as well as illegal electricity connections, have contributed significantly to the non-functionality of streetlights. “This has been a concerning trend we’ve identified. The intentional destruction of streetlights in areas with high crime rates. This is done to create dark zones where criminal activities can go undetected.
“We have engaged with law enforcement authorities and flagged several of these hotspots, where public lighting infrastructure is being sabotaged to facilitate crime. Illegal electricity connections, which often overload and damage mini-substations, also impacts the wider electricity supply in the area, including streetlights.”
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Mangena also highlighted the response times for repairs, stating that the city has improved its turnaround time from 7–10 days, down to approximately 72 hours. However, repairs often face delays due to ongoing vandalism, high demand for replacement parts, and the need for insurance assessments when theft or sabotage occurs.
Regarding specific assessments at the intersection, Mangena confirmed that an evaluation was conducted on June 5. The team successfully bypassed a faulty circuit on South Way, restoring some lighting, but noted that there are currently no streetlights installed along Old Pretoria Main Road in that area.
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“City Power is actively involved in ongoing maintenance and refurbishment projects, including the rollout of LED and solar-powered lighting solutions, under national initiatives aimed at improving public safety and infrastructure resilience,” Mangena concluded.
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