Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Teboho Thulo, Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Ruanda Meyer, and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Lebohang Chalala.
– DA demands urgent repair of failed high-mast lights.
– Dark streets fuel crime and endanger residents.
– Municipality urged to implement maintenance programme urgently.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Executive Mayor and Municipal Manager of Metsimaholo Local Municipality to request the immediate repair of all non-functioning high mast lights and the implementation of a preventative maintenance programme to ensure that critical lighting infrastructure remains operational.
The current coalition government has not implemented a clear maintenance or upgrade program for the electrical infrastructure.
The DA is deeply concerned about the continued failure of the Metsimaholo local municipality to repair and maintain high-mast lights across Sasolburg, Zamdela, Deneysville, and Oranjeville.
For months, Residents have reported that numerous high-mast lights remain out of service, plunging streets and open spaces into darkness. This breakdown in basic infrastructure is not just an inconvenience; it directly contributes to rising crime.
Dark streets provide cover for mugging, house break-ins, cable theft and violence. This has an impact on the community.
Public safety is at risk; learners walking to school early in the morning and workers returning home late are exposed to danger. Small businesses that rely on evening trading are losing income as customers avoid poorly lit areas.
High mast lights are low-cost, high-impact tools for crime prevention. Their failure is a failure of basic governance.
The people of Metsimaholo Local Municipality deserve to feel safe in their own streets. Restoring high-mast lights is the bare minimum the Municipality must deliver.