In an effort to combat the R19 billion infrastructure backlog City Power is conducting numerous street light installation and maintenance projects throughout the City.

Thus far almost 200 street lights have been installed around the city since the beginning of the year and Nico de Jager MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services says he expects an additional 108 street lights to be installed this month.

“During the course of January 2018, 142 street lights were installed in Poortview and 57 in Modderfontein. By end of February, 108 street lights will be installed in Swartkoppies and 9 in Mmesi Park,” he explains.

While new street lights are being installed, City Power is also undertaking maintenance of the over 270 000 existing streetlights scattered across the City.

The maintenance will include the replacement of covers, lamps and photo cells as well as straightening poles.

De Jager says the City is in need of additional capital funding to be able to replace all street lights and not just a pole by pole replacement as maintenance requires.

“However, in an effort to be proactive, a dedicated General Manager, who is solely responsible for the maintenance and repairs of streetlights, has been appointed.”

The utility is urging residents to report defective street lights as well as theft and vandalism.