In an impressive response to community needs, Cape Town’s City Energy teams have addressed more than 10 000 streetlight-related service requests in just 30 days as part of an enhanced streetlight focus initiative, reports Cape {town} Etc.
From 26 March 2025 to 25 April 2025, this concerted effort not only alleviated backlog issues but also significantly improved turnaround times for residents seeking better-lit streets.
During this period, nearly 30 000 electricity-related service requests were completed, showcasing the City’s commitment to effectively tackling energy-related challenges.
However, ongoing issues with vandalism, theft, and illegal connections continue to hinder efforts. The damaged infrastructure frequently necessitates complete replacement, underscoring the complexity of maintaining reliable streetlight systems.
City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy Alderman Xanthea Limberg said, ‘Vandalism, theft, and illegal connections across the metro continue to impact turnaround times as damaged infrastructure often needs to be entirely replaced.’
‘The City’s Energy Safety Unit continues to make a significant difference in our operations,’ noted Limberg,
To combat these challenges, the City is investing heavily in innovative solutions, including the replacement of high-value copper cables with low-value conductors, aimed at deterring theft.
The ongoing transition from overhead to underground cabling in many communities is also set to enhance security and reliability.
The Electricity Generation and Distribution Department has made major strides in improving service delivery, despite the difficulties posed by vandalism.
Their multi-year anti-vandalism campaign, aptly titled ‘Protect Your Power’, encourages community vigilance and participation. ‘We are urging our communities to keep an eye on the power infrastructure,’ Alderman Limberg shared.
‘Reporting suspicious activity promptly helps us reduce the extent of damage caused by theft and vandalism.’
Statistics reveal that across various metro areas, theft and vandalism remain the primary reasons for streetlight outages. Over the past month, requests handled were distributed as follows:
- East: 3 965 requests
- North: 2 395 requests
- South: 3 869 requests
The combined efforts of the City teams are crucial, as they manage over 245 000 streetlights throughout the metro, all of which play a vital role in creating safer, brighter communities for residents.
Limberg asserted, ‘Every bit of help we can get goes a long way as we endeavour to establish a well-lit environment for our citizens.’
Also read:
Energy teams focus on streetlight maintenance ahead of busy season
Picture: City of Cape Town
