Johannesburg’s traffic woes continue to grow as malfunctioning traffic lights cause daily headaches for commuters, costing time, money, and fuel. Research highlights that nonfunctional traffic lights across the city result in an average delay of 37 minutes per day per motorist, significantly impacting the daily lives of Johannesburg residents.
The Cost of Lost Time and Increased Fuel Consumption
Dr. Aurobindo Ograurban, a regional planning expert and lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, conducted an analysis revealing the high costs associated with traffic light failures. “With an average of 37 minutes lost daily, this translates to an annual cost exceeding R28,000 per motorist,” he stated. Further findings suggest that fuel consumption increases by up to 3.5 times during peak congestion, draining additional resources from commuters already struggling with rising costs.
Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) Struggles with Infrastructure Challenges
The Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) manages 2,023 traffic and warning lights in the city, of which they claim 75% are operational. However, as per Wayne Duvenage, CEO of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), the situation appears worse than JRA suggests. “Our recent poll on X (formerly Twitter) shows a marked deterioration in traffic light functionality,” Duvenage said, underscoring the growing frustration among residents.
Phalanndwa Makhwathana, JRA’s acting head of mobility and freight, attributed more than 25% of faults to “electrical power supply challenges,” including theft and vandalism affecting the networks run by Eskom and City Power. Makhwathana noted that JRA incurs an annual cost of over R70 million for repairs, with approximately 600 technical faults addressed yearly. This figure excludes damage from vandalism and power-related faults, areas where JRA relies on external power suppliers.
Frustrated Residents Speak Out
Residents have expressed their daily frustrations, citing specific areas with recurring outages. Lungile Mthethwa, a Soweto commuter, described the frequent outages along Voortrekker Road, Ring Road, and St Austell Street, which have persisted for over three months. “It’s costly on petrol and a constant battle with other drivers, especially taxis trying to cut in front,” she shared.
Similarly, Lizo Zulu, who travels from the R554 to Midrand, has seen his weekly petrol expenses increase from R600 to R750 due to the stop-and-go nature of congested intersections. Commuters in Randburg also report morning gridlock, especially on Bram Fischer Drive, further fueling frustrations.
Areas Most Affected by Malfunctioning Traffic Lights
A breakdown by the JRA indicates that certain regions experience more severe issues. Region F, encompassing the Joburg CBD, Booysens, and nearby areas, reports the highest number of vandalised traffic lights. However, regions B (Randburg, Parktown), C (Roodepoort), D (Greater Soweto), and E (Sandton, Alexandra) are not far behind. Vandalised signals often take longer to repair, with some intersections without traffic lights for extended periods.
According to Makhwathana, JRA is working on measures to combat infrastructure insecurity, including specifications for robust controller systems to prevent frequent breakdowns. Additionally, the agency has issued requests for information on ways to strengthen other aspects of its infrastructure.
Support from OUTsurance Pointsmen and Metro Police
Since 2005, OUTsurance has provided pointsmen to alleviate congestion during peak hours. Despite the support from 70 pointsmen, Duvenage noted that their efforts are becoming overstretched. “The Metro Police Department should increase its presence at busy intersections to support the pointsmen,” he advised, emphasizing the need for a more coordinated approach.
The malfunctioning of traffic lights in Johannesburg affects thousands of residents daily, extending travel times, increasing fuel consumption, and raising commuter costs. As the city grapples with these challenges, solutions require cooperation from the JRA, law enforcement, and energy providers to address power disruptions, combat vandalism, and maintain infrastructure stability.
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