Cable theft leaves Bryanston streets dark
After logging an outage nearly a month ago, Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackelford questions whether the city’s three-day streetlight repair promise is being honoured.
“Bryanston residents cannot afford to be left in the dark.”
This was said by Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackelford, standing next to a broken streetlight pole on Ballyclare Drive during a site visit on March 6.
With winter approaching and daylight hours shrinking, Shackelford says malfunctioning streetlights and repeated cable theft are creating dangerous conditions across parts of Bryanston. “I’m standing next to the problem. A major security issue in Bryanston at the moment.”
Read more: Ward 103 councillor sets ambitious infrastructure goals for 2026 after a year of hardships
Shackelford said cable theft and vandalism have become common in the area. “I’ve just been to Brook Avenue, where, in the last five nights, they’ve also had vandalised cables on their streetlight poles. The problem here, on Ballyclare Drive, is that the fixtures inside the actual boxes have been stolen.”
She confirmed that a meeting had already taken place with City Power earlier in the week to discuss the growing issue. “We held a meeting with City Power on [March 3]. They are looking into it. We are going to have a follow-up meeting. They are taking this seriously.”However, Shackelford questioned whether the City of Johannesburg is meeting the service standards it previously committed to.
Also read: The challenges Lynda Shackleford faces as a councillor of ward 103
She pointed to a service level agreement (SLA) passed in 2025, where Mayor Dada Morero promised that streetlight repairs would be done within three days. “This is a shout-out to Mayor Dada Morero. Last year, we passed an SLA that it would take three days for streetlights to be fixed. You went on all social media platforms and posted about this. However, to date, I don’t think I can say that streetlights have been done within three days.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackelford speaks from Ballyclare Drive in Bryanston about vandalised streetlights and cable theft, leaving parts of the area in darkness. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #Ward103 ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Shackelford highlighted a case on Ballyclare Drive that she reported almost a month ago. “I logged the Ballyclare Drive streetlights outage to City Power on February 9. Almost a month later, the repairs are not done.
“So, mayor, I’m asking you to step up, to follow up, and to understand winter is coming. It’s a security risk.”
She added that residents want to be able to walk freely on the roads at night, and they want their properties to be secured. “Specifically, Barkley Halls, where there has been an increase in crime within the Bryanston, River Club, and Sandton areas. So, mayor, this one’s for you. What’s happening about our streetlights?”
City Power and the City of Johannesburg have been contacted for comment. Updates will be provided once they become available.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
