City teams mobilise to repair and strengthen electricity infrastructure in Langa and Bonteheuwel
30 April 2026
The City of Cape Town’s Energy Directorate has intensified efforts on the ground to repair and upgrade critical electricity infrastructure in Langa and Bonteheuwel. Teams are focusing on high-mast public lighting, streetlights, and substation maintenance to improve service reliability in these areas.
‘The City’s Electricity teams continue to work tirelessly across the metro to upgrade and maintain high-mast and street lighting infrastructure. The teams are also maintaining substations and electricity kiosks as part of our broader strategy to enhance service delivery, particularly in growing communities where it is needed most.
‘While work is ongoing across all areas, our recent visit and focus in Langa and Bonteheuwel forms part of the Mayor’s Service Blitz initiative. During our visit, our teams attended to a large number of repairs and LED retrofit upgrades to high masts, streetlights and electrical kiosk boxes to boost household electricity reticulation and minimise power faults. Our latest capital expenditure data indicates that the City’s Area North region, which includes the Vanguard district that services both Langa and Bonteheuwel is ahead of its planned expenditure, with nearly 90% of its R123 million budget in infrastructure repairs and upgrades completed, boosting electricity service reliability and mitigating unplanned outages in those areas.
‘Between February and March 2026, the City recorded and resolved 26 179 electricity-related service requests. In the current financial year, R75,5 million has been allocated to the upgrade and expansion of streetlighting citywide.
‘In addition, we are rolling out anti-vandalism technologies to safeguard infrastructure and deter criminal activity that disrupts electricity services. We thank residents for their continued support in reporting faulty streetlights. This plays a vital role in enabling quicker, more efficient responses. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity near critical infrastructure to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the City,' said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
City Interventions
The City has launched Protect Your Power, a first-of-its-kind campaign highlighting the impact of vandalism, theft, and illegal connections that leave communities in the dark.
Energy Safety Team and City Law Enforcement continue to be visible in all hotspot areas.
The City is exploring and aims to expand anti-theft and vandalism tech solutions.
We are installing low-street-value equipment in place of copper to discourage theft and vandalism.
We are welding access points to our infrastructure to deter and complicate access through forced entry.
We ask members of the public to report any suspicious behaviour to us so that we can Protect Your Power together. Swift reporting will enable the City to act with speed to prevent extensive damage.
Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power against theft, illegal connections and vandalism
Report suspicious behaviour to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700
Report illegal scrap yards to the ‘Copperheads’: 0800 222 771 (toll free, 24/7, anonymous tip-offs)
SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention.
Report to the City
Streetlight and electricity faults:
Caption: City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg on site in Bonteheuwel where work was carried out.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
