The City Energy Directorate’s R6,4 m LED refurbishment programme for high mast lighting is being carried out across the metro, with Nyanga and Crossroads being the latest areas to receive upgrades. The LED refurbishment programme prioritises high-risk areas and routes, among others. It entails the upgrading and refurbishing conventional luminaires with energy efficient-technology. 

‘We visited areas in Nyanga and Crossroads where our Energy teams were performing maintenance and much needed upgrades to our high mast infrastructure. These upgrades are an essential part of the City’s overall strategy to enhance visibility and safety through sustained lighting interventions. The advanced LED fittings require lower maintenance costs while offering a significantly longer lifespan compared to older fittings. 

‘The City is investing more than R6,4 million into the metro-wide high mast LED refurbishment programme in 2027, which focuses on areas where this investment is needed the most. Other areas include Khayelitsha, Bonteheuwel, Nomzamo, Lwandle, Delft, Uitsig and Brown’s Farm, among others. We are also ramping up our investment in streetlight refurbishments across the metro to keep our network of over 245 000 fittings burning. Between August and September alone, over 10 000 streetlight related service requests were attended to by our teams and contractors. 

‘Vandalism, illegal connections and encroachment continue to place significant pressure on our infrastructure, and we urge residents to help us protect these essential services. Where some dwellings have been built around public infrastructure, limiting access for repairs and posing great dangers to residents, our teams will take the necessary action to safeguard the integrity of the electricity network. We ask members of the public to report any suspicious activity to us so that we can Protect Your Power together,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

City Interventions

• The City’s Protect Your Power campaign highlights 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 continues to roll out anti-theft and vandalism tech solutions. 
• Where possible, we are installing low-street-value equipment in place of copper to discourage theft and vandalism.

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:

Call Centre: 0860 103 089
SMS: 31220
WhatsApp: 060 018 1505