JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Traffic lights in the South have been going on and off to a Kibler Park resident’s dismay due to what’s been confirmed by Mondeor SAPS as copper cable theft.
While the new traffic light on Gordon Road hasn’t been functioning properly, on some days it flashes the red light and on other days it works properly. The traffic lights in Eikenhof and Olifantsvlei have not been on for weeks, according to motorists who drive on the Old Vereeniging Road.
There have been a series of blackouts in Gauteng due to load shedding; however, rolling blackouts are not the only reason why traffic lights had motorists seeing red due to backed-up traffic.
South resident Trevor W Sturgess reached out to residents on January 27, saying: “I spoke to the City Power guys. The recent blackouts and power surges in Kibler Park have been due to cable theft. They say in Mondeor Sector 2 they don’t have this problem. Because they report it when they see suspicious characters. Please, if you see something suspicious, report it! SAPS vans cells: 071 675 6152 / 49.”
Mondeor SAPS Communications Officer Constable Sibongile Mnguni confirmed that criminals are targeting traffic lights because of copper cables in some areas. Steel gates are being stolen for their metal value.
The advice that Constable Mnguni had for residents was: “If residents see people digging, even if they have reflectors on, residents must verify with City Power, Mondeor Sector 2 CPF or the local councillor to check whether a job was booked at that particular substation or traffic light.”
According to Constable Mnguni, the maintenance workers should have job cards, and residents should be careful not to be fooled by clever criminals who give them a number and say they must contact their employer for confirmation. The other person on the line could be an accomplice posing as a legitimate employer.
