City fits 3200 energy efficient street lights: Asks residents to report theft and vandalism

27 Sep 2017 in Where We Govern

City Power has installed over 3200 streetlights, fitted with energy efficient luminaires, in various areas across the City of Johannesburg, during the course of the last financial year.

Blue Hills, President Park, Sunninghill, Olifansfontein Road, Fourways, Thembelihle, Kanana Park and Naledi are some of the areas who have benefitted from these installations.

The energy efficient luminaires ensures a considerable reduction in maintenance cost, and their lifespan are up to five times that of the conventional luminaires.

Due to the energy efficiency feature, these luminaires also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the streetlight poles are fitted with daylight-switches which switch the lights on during the night and turn them off during day.

It has often happened that these daylight-switches become the target of theft and vandalism, which results in the streetlight covers being removed and luminaires burning not only at night, but also during the day.

Extensive damage or cable theft can also cause the lights to shut down completely, resulting in streets being dark at night, and residents becoming easy targets for criminals when walking alone.

Cable theft, vandalism and rampant damage of timing devices also hamper City Power’s efforts to save electricity and costs the entity millions of Rands every year to conduct repairs and replace equipment.

Illegal connection to vandalised streetlight poles also exacerbates power disruptions, and exerts pressure on the network which is already constrained.

I appeal to residents to report cable theft to any of the following numbers:

  • 011 490 7900
  • 011 490 7911
  • 011 490 7553

Illegal connections can be reported anonymously to 0800 002 587.

Faulty streetlights can be reported through: