MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 602 / 2012
19 JULY 2012


Yesterday evening the City of Cape Town switched on the newly-restored traffic lights at the Modderdam Road and 35th Avenue intersection. These traffic lights were recently vandalised by protesters.

Commuters are to please note that the lights will operate sub-optimally for a period after the lights are switched on. This is to allow the SCOOT loops – a traffic flow optimisation system used by the City – to be installed.

The City has unfortunately received threats that the traffic lights will be destroyed again. While the City respects the right to protest, it would like to urge protestors to do so in a peaceful manner, and not to destroy the traffic signals.

“We are appealing to protestors to conduct their protests peacefully. The senseless destruction of City infrastructure serves no purpose. The vandalism has an impact on service delivery, as funds that had been allocated to deliver goods and services to communities now have to be spent on repairs,” said Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater. “We take the threats to destroy public infrastructure very seriously and I have asked our City Manager to ensure that these threats are reported to the South African Police Services.


END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
CLLR BRETT HERRON
MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT, ROADS & STORMWATER, CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 021 400 5977 CELL: 082 518 3264, E-MAIL: BRETT. HERRON@CAPETOWN.GOV.ZA