Intervention to Curb Vandalism and Theft of Road Infrastructure

The City’s Department of Roads and Stormwater and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) are intensifying their war against theft and vandalism of road infrastructure.

Vandalism and theft are major causes of extended traffic signal outages through theft of copper cable, metal fittings, electronic components, UPS units and batteries. These activities are conducted by major criminal syndicates as well as opportunistic criminals.

Head of Department for Roads and Stormwater Sizwe Cele has condemned such bizarre behaviour, stating that this costs the City millions of rands.

 “We had to partner with the EMPD to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested. We are experiencing theft of traffic signals daily and that becomes very costly and puts our road users’ lives in danger,” Cele said

The department has resolved to replace critical infrastructure with material of lesser resale value. For example, the aluminium and steel traffic signal heads and back boards have all been replaced with the nylon plastic types.

Residents are urged to report such crime through the City’s Call Centre on 0860 543 000 or Police on 10111.