Roads agency sees red over robbery

The last battery powering a traffic light has been stolen, taking with it the R14-million that Johannesburg spent on the project.

Back in 2012, the city installed 200 battery-operated traffic lights, with batteries costing R70000 each.

All 200 batteries have since been stolen, with the last one removed last month.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency said it could only replace 50 of the 200 batteries stolen.

The batteries provide emergency power when the power fails and the traffic backs up.

"There is a significant impact to the city because congestion impacts on productivity, which impacts on the economy," said JRA spokesman Bertha Scheepers.

Thieves have also been helping themselves to vital traffic infrastructure such as solar panels and cables supplying power to the traffic lights.

Last year the city spent R10-million to replace stolen or vandalised traffic control infrastructure.

The JRA said that on average 30 incidents of vandalism and theft were reported a month, with an additional 70 traffic lights knocked down in accidents.

"Theft and vandalism cost us millions of rands every year.

"Week in and week out vandals leave nothing standing as they cut down our traffic signal poles and smash inlet-supporting beams to steal the metal.

"We spend R400000 a month to replace our equipment," said Darryll Thomas, the JRA's head of mobility and freight.

The solar panels used on traffic lights are becoming a favourite of the thieves.

A total of 21 solar panels were installed at various intersections across the metro and already two are missing.

The thieving has resulted in additional costs to the city as it now has to finalise a tender for a security surveillance system and for increased police visibility to protect the costly infrastructure.