The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has revealed that over R70 million is required to repair vandalised traffic lights across the city, as motorists and commuters continue to face long delays due to dysfunctional intersections. The issue has become a significant challenge, not only in Johannesburg but also in other municipalities in Gauteng, including the City of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, where similar problems persist.
Major Congestion and Commuter Frustration
The malfunctioning traffic lights have caused extensive traffic congestion, with some residents reporting delays of more than 30 minutes. Many key intersections have become bottlenecks, significantly increasing travel times during peak hours.
One of the worst-affected routes is Beyers Naudé Drive, which starts at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park and runs through Melville, Roosevelt Park, Northcliff, and Blackheath before intersecting the N1 Western Bypass at Randpark Ridge. Multiple traffic lights along this stretch are either dysfunctional or missing due to theft.
Impact on Daily Commuters
Residents have voiced their frustration over the ongoing issue. Thandeka Mduna, a Honeydew resident, highlighted that over three traffic lights in her area had been stolen, worsening traffic flow. “It’s been more than five years since the traffic lights were stolen and vandalised. Some are broken and have never been repaired,” she said.
Similarly, Alfred Boya from Cosmo City shared his frustrations about the inconsistent functioning of signals on Malibongwe Drive. “Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. We are tired of this situation because it affects our jobs,” he lamented.
Widespread Vandalism and Infrastructure Damage
The JRA is responsible for maintaining 2,023 signalised intersections across the city, which require over 16,000 poles, 100,000 LED bulbs, and 2,023 controller boxes. However, persistent vandalism and theft have crippled the network, leading to ongoing disruptions.
Last month alone, the agency recorded over 360 cases of traffic light vandalism and theft, with new incidents reported daily. Sipho Nhlapo, the JRA’s acting head of traffic lights, stated that 200 warning signals had recently been damaged.
Challenges in Restoring the Traffic System
The JRA has begun working on restoring vandalised traffic lights with the help of contractors, but progress remains slow due to the high number of affected sites. On average, rebuilding a single vandalised signal costs approximately R500,000, leading to an estimated total of over R70 million to restore all affected intersections.
Power failures have further exacerbated the issue, making it easier for criminals to steal infrastructure components without the risk of electrocution. The JRA continues to collaborate with power utility providers such as City Power and Eskom to address these power outages, which contribute significantly to the traffic signal failures.
Seeking Long-Term Solutions
In response to the crisis, the JRA is exploring smart infrastructure solutions to enhance security and resilience against vandalism. “We are in the process of receiving responses from service providers to a Request for Information (RFI) that the JRA issued. The process is ongoing,” Nhlapo said.
Additionally, the agency has emphasised that theft and vandalism of traffic light infrastructure are criminal offences punishable under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act. Law enforcement agencies have been notified to take action against offenders.
Also Read: Behind the Blackouts: Unveiling the Truth About Joburg’s Dysfunctional Traffic Lights
While efforts are underway to restore order on Johannesburg’s roads, the city remains in urgent need of solutions to curb the ongoing theft and vandalism. Until then, motorists will continue to face frustrating delays and longer commutes due to non-functioning traffic signals.
