NELSON MANDELA BAY | MUNICIPALITY INSTALLS HIGH MAST SOLAR LIGHTS ON STANFORD ROAD TO CURB VANDALISM

In a first of its kind for Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Metro has invested R3.5million for the installation of new 20-meter solar high mast lights along a section of the busy Stanford Road in Gqeberha to provide stable power and reduce the continuous vandalism of electrical infrastructure.

The pilot project is being implemented between Cleary Park and Windvogel with the work expected to be completed in May 2023.

During a site visit on Wednesday, 13 April 2023, NMBM Electricity and Energy Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr Lance Grootboom said the identified area was a hotspot for constant vandalism, with the Metro fixing the lights in the area more than four times in two financial years at a cost of R3million.

"Streetlights vandalism is most noticeable along the major roads as it is generally the criminals’ easiest target due to the isolated location from residential homes. We have devised various strategies to try and address the destruction of this infrastructure including burying cables under concrete and replacement of underground cables with aluminum aerial bundled conductors. Despite all the interventions, some main roads and in certain suburbs still get vandalized continuously,” MMC Grootboom said.

He added that the advantage was that no electrical cables would be on the ground to be vandalized or stolen, the height of the new lights (20-meters above ground) would prevent criminals from accessing the solar panels and equipment.

"The sturdy design of the high mast means it cannot be cut or pulled over with a vehicle like a normal streetlight pole and the additional benefit is that this area will not  be reliant on the electricity grid, which is currently affected by the constant loadshedding. As a pilot project, when we see the success of this installation, we will roll it out to other affected areas. We urge all stakeholders within NMBM to partner with us as we fight against the cancer that is vandalism, it steals from all of us. As a Municipality we are doing our part and we need all role players to join us and do their part as our efforts put together will yield us positive results,” Grootboom said.

NMBM