Traffic signal battery theft persists in the city
26 August 2020
Thieves are targeting Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) batteries at signalised intersections across Cape Town. The City urges the public to report any information related to these incidents. Syndicates are involved in the theft of the UPS batteries and units, which keep Cape Town’s intersections operational during load-shedding.
The City spent approximately R6 571 000 on the replacement and new installation of stolen UPS batteries and units during the last financial year, ending 30 June 2020.
Over the past three weeks alone, another 87 UPS batteries to the value of R124 000 had been stolen at 15 different signalised intersections across the city. These incidents occurred in Mitchells Plain; Kuils River; Eerste River; Athlone; Khayelitsha; Gordon’s Bay; Bothasig; Stikland; Parow; Grassy Park and in the Airport Industria area.
The theft of the UPS batteries and units, and damage to the municipal infrastructure, is a waste of the City’s resources during critical times when we are battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘We cannot afford to keep on replacing the stolen batteries at our traffic signals. Vandalism and theft is unacceptable. The UPS batteries must keep the traffic lights working in times of load-shedding. Motorists will be severely affected and must expect longer travelling times, especially now that the traffic on the roads is picking up,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.
The City asks members of the public to be vigilant at our traffic signals and to report these events or any related information that could assist in preventing the theft.
It is important to note that the current branding on these batteries is Vision and Royal. Perpetrators who are caught will be charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act.
Report traffic signal infrastructure damage and theft to the Transport Information Centre (TIC) on 0800 65 64 63, the TIC is available 24/7.
End Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
