Please find attached soundbites in English by Tshepiso Mothupi
Please find attached soundbites in Setswana by Tshepiso Mothupi
– Non-functional high mast lights are leaving communities vulnerable to crime and insecurity,
– Poor maintenance of public lighting infrastructure is undermining community safety,
– Urgent repairs and a proactive maintenance plan needed to restore safer neighbourhoods.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Moses Kotane Local Municipality is deeply concerned about the growing number of non-functional high mast lights across Wards 03, 23, and 24, and the direct impact this is having on the safety and security of local communities.
Residents have repeatedly reported high mast lights that are either completely inoperative or severely damaged, leaving large sections of communities in darkness after sunset. The failure to maintain this critical infrastructure not only reflects poor service delivery but also creates conditions that allow criminal activity to thrive.
Functional street and high mast lights play a vital role in creating safer communities. Well-lit public spaces improve visibility, assist law enforcement efforts, increase public confidence, and make it more difficult for criminals to operate undetected. When communities are left in darkness, the risk of theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities increases significantly.
Many residents have expressed growing concerns about safety in their neighbourhoods as more lighting infrastructure falls into disrepair. Families should not have to fear walking home after dark or worry that municipal neglect is contributing to unsafe living conditions.
The DA therefore calls on the Moses Kotane Local Municipality to urgently assess the condition of all high mast lights in the affected wards, prioritise repairs to non-functional infrastructure, and implement a preventative maintenance programme to ensure that lighting remains operational.
The municipality must also improve its fault-reporting and response systems and provide residents with regular updates on maintenance schedules and repair progress.
Public lighting is not merely an infrastructure issue but a community safety issue. Every non-functional high mast light represents a missed opportunity to deter crime and improve the quality of life of residents.
The DA remains committed to advocating for safer communities and holding the municipality accountable for maintaining the infrastructure that residents rely on every day. Restoring and maintaining high mast lights is a practical step that can immediately contribute to safer, more secure communities across Moses Kotane.