The continuous vandalising of streetlights in Lavender Hill often leave residents vulnerable to crime, with up to 3 400 street light service requests received in a two-week period.
According to the City of Cape Town, Lavender Hill and the City’s Area South are hotspots.
“Lavender Hill and the majority of the City’s Area South continues to be hit hard by energy vandals and thieves,” said Mayco member for energy Xanthea Limberg.
“Recently, over two weeks between (Wednesday) 6 November and (Monday) 19 November, we attended to more than 3 400 street light requests, the majority of them within Area South, and we will not stop attending to many more over the days and weeks to come.”
Limberg explained that City teams often have to return to the same areas to fix the same infrastructure.
“It is always surprising to see the extent of the destruction these criminals are capable of and the great impact it has on entire electrical grids,” she said.
“Of course, more can be done and we are working hard to ensure vandalism and theft are lessened as much as possible.”
Ward 110 councillor Shanen Rossouw explained that communities such as Lavender Hill are often left without street lights for months, due to vandalism.
“We have been facing a lot of challenges with vandalising of infrastructure in Sakkiesdorp, which is a pocket of Lavender Hill,” she commented. “As soon as the City fixes the lights they vandalise the infrastructure again, which is a big challenge for the community who is left in the dark and robbed.”
Due to the magnitude of complaints received in November, the City laid new underground aluminium cables in Lavender Hill last month.
“Lavender Hill was in total darkness because it was vandalised per court,” said Rossouw. “Unemployment, gangsterism, poverty and drugs are rife, which plays a part in vandalism.”
Meanwhile, Subcouncil 18 chair Kevin Southgate said it was unfortunate that continuous vandalism leaves innocent people in the dark.
“The concern we had is the high incidence of theft and vandalism which leaves people at a great disadvantage, without power for extended periods.”
The City calls on the community to report illegal activities to the City and police.
To report suspicious behaviour contact the City’s Public Emergency communication centre on 021 480 7700
