Vandalism Surge Cripples Traffic Signals in eThekwini’s Isipingo Area
The eThekwini Municipality is urging residents to remain vigilant as a surge in vandalism continues to disable traffic signals across the southern region, particularly in the Isipingo area. The ongoing damage which includes stolen cables, forced-open control boxes, and removed or broken pole covers has left several major intersections without functioning traffic lights. Key sites affected include Prospecton/N2 and Prospecton/Wilcox.
Technicians attending to faults report arriving to scenes where copper wiring has been stripped out, control boxes have been tampered with, and in severe cases, entire cables have been removed. These repeated attacks are severely hampering the City’s ability to maintain reliable signal operations and ensure safe road conditions.
The financial impact is equally troubling. Repairs at each vandalised intersection can cost the City up to R70 000, placing additional strain on an already pressured municipal budget. If incidents continue at this pace, prolonged outages may become unavoidable as repair costs begin to outweigh available resources.
The Municipality is calling on community members to help curb the vandalism by reporting any suspicious activity around traffic signals. Preventing damage is far more effective and affordable than repairing it after the fact.
Faulty or tampered traffic signals can be reported by calling 087 121 9446 or through the eThekwini mobile app.
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