City lights up Khayelitsha with R10 million high mast light refurbishments
16 September 2025
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, visited Khayelitsha to assess the Energy Directorate’s rollout of refurbishment and upgrades of high-mast streetlights in Khayelitsha. This critical project will see the refurbishment of public lighting infrastructure in the area, including the retrofitting of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamps. This work forms part of the City’s wider public lighting upgrade programme, which is rolling out across Cape Town to enhance safety, support economic activity and promote sustainable energy use.
Alderman Limberg and officials in the Energy Directorate visited Ekuphumleni in Khayelitsha, where a portion of the work was being completed along Walter Sisiulu Road.
‘We’re quite excited with the work being carried out in Khayelitsha, an area which the City has already invested more than R7,5 million in refurbishments in the last financial year alone. This year, we’ve increased our investment to just over R10 million to keep up with the growing demand for public lighting as we continue our fight against the scourge of theft, vandalism and illegal electricity connections, which severely impacts public lighting burn rates in Khayelitsha.
‘Over the course of this financial year, this R10 million project will include our routine full structural inspections of the poles and the replacement of outdated, stolen, or vandalised components. In addition, the City is also phasing out the old 1 000-watt High Pressure Sodium fittings (HPS) and replacing them with modern energy-efficient 488-watt LED fittings, securing about 48,8% in energy savings while providing significantly better visibility. The complex work being carried out in the area involves heavy machinery, including the use of a crane, yet despite this, our dedicated teams and contractors had the high mast pole up and burning within a matter of hours.
‘Importantly, this project forms part of the City’s wider public lighting upgrade programme being rolled out in communities across Cape Town. We have budgeted over R160 million for LED public lighting expansion projects over the next three years. These projects demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that our infrastructure keeps up with modern standards while remaining reliable, efficient, and safe,’ said Alderman Limberg.
Benefits of this refurbishment include
- Brighter, superior illumination and enhanced visibility
- Improved energy efficiency and reduced electricity consumption
- Lower maintenance requirements and fewer service call-outs
- Extended lifespan of lighting infrastructure
- Cost savings over time due to reduced repairs and energy use
Protect your Power Campaign to tackle R62 million vandalism, theft crisis
Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power
The City has spent approximately R62 million in the past financial year on electricity infrastructure maintenance and replacement. All efforts for safer and brighter communities, such as this high mast upgrade are jeopardised by theft and vandalism, and illegal connections across our communities and along our major roadways.
This is a first of a kind campaign to highlight the massive impact of vandalism, theft, and illegal connections that leave our communities, neighbourhoods, and roadways in the dark. Much of our infrastructure is located within our communities, in some cases, right next to residents’ homes.
The City is calling on you to help us Protect Your Power and build safer, brighter communities by reporting any suspicious activity anonymously to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC). Report suspicious behaviour to 021 480 7700.
The SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
