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Let there be light again
Yvette Wilde from Three Rivers East in Vereeniging shared this letter:
We moved to Yellowbill Street, Three Rivers East, in 1999. When we arrived, we took the working streetlights for granted. As per magic they would come on when the sun set and go off when the sun rose. Nobody ever thought about it, it just happened. In the last 4 years things have changed dramatically. As the lightbulbs went out the municipality never changed them. One by one our streetlights became ornaments and our street became darker and darker. One by one, until there was none. I worry about my family coming home late from work. I worry about my daughter wanting to come have dinner with us as she is a soft target due to the street being clothed in darkness. I know I am not alone as our street has formed a security WhatsApp group and we frequently exchange our concerns. We also use this group to communicate if somebody needs urgent assistance, we note strange movement in the street and alert each other. On occasion it is also used to chivvy the rest of the street into action, should the garbage truck make an appearance there. Then we get messages like: “Run Yellowbill run!! Dustbins OUT!”
One thing that’s a positive is the fact that our street has become like a little family which is very strange in our neck of the woods. This has led to many midnight shopping expeditions being curtailed as well.
Our non-working streetlights got a makeover this week. Last night was our first night of LIGHT in Yellowbill. We all clubbed together and under the guidance of Brett van Heerden & Jacques Barkley we had solar streetlights installed. Brett & Jacques, two of our residents, contacted Kevin Jackson from Hardware Inc and Kevin got the lights at a good rate. The guys organized a cherry picker with the help of Morne Theunissen and the lights were installed. The rest of Yellowbill rejoiced. One of the resident’s children even asked if they can go play Toktokkie now.
It’s really an awesome sight seeing our street all lit up. Thank you to everybody that made this happen. I am proud to be part of this great street. I hope our neighbouring streets will follow suit and soon we will be so well lit in our area that midnight shopping will rather move to where there is no light.
Come on! Sandpiper, Cormorant and Fish Eagle you have been challenged!
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