The Nelson Mandela Bay metro is confronting a serious problem with its streetlight infrastructure: an estimated 10,000 of the 40,000 streetlights are not functioning. The situation is worsened by the municipal maintenance fleet being out of operation. According to the Democratic Alliance, 16 of the 27 cherry pickers are also out of order, making maintenance nearly impossible.
The original contract for streetlight repair was set aside 15 months ago after allegations of corruption and collusion, which are now being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit. Since the contract was halted, about 25 % of the metro’s streetlights have stopped working and have not been replaced.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the metro is finalising a new contract for streetlight repairs that will require contractors to use their own equipment. The contractors are expected to begin work in the first week of October. Mayor Babalwa Lobishe previously told the city’s spiritual leaders that the contracts were awarded in August and that the metro is currently negotiating service‑level agreements. She assured residents and stakeholders that the metro has taken decisive steps to address the backlog through a legally compliant procurement process.
The large number of non‑functional streetlights raises safety and security concerns for the community. Finalising the new contract and commencing repairs are crucial to restoring the streetlight infrastructure and safeguarding residents. The ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption may affect future contracts and procurement practices, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in the maintenance of public infrastructure.
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