The City Energy Directorate’s ongoing work of installing and maintaining its light-emitting diodes (LED) on public lights in Khayelitsha is making significant progress. Khayelitsha has a network of 222 high-mast public lights and the City’s LED long-term project aims to phase out the old mercury vapour installations for brighter and more energy efficient LEDs in the area over the coming months and years.

Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg visited Khayelitsha where the City’s public lighting teams were doing inspections on recently installed LED infrastructure, as well as new installations of the energy efficient LED fittings. This forms part of the City’s LED refurbishment public lighting project, which is being rolled out across the city.

‘This week, we visited Eyethu and the surrounding neighbourhoods in Khayelitsha to have a closer look at the LED retrofitting and refurbishment programme. The City is responsible for more than 700 high masts public lights in the metro with more than 222 high masts, as one type of public lighting, in the Khayelitsha network alone. We have committed to investing R3,5 million into retrofitting of our existing high mast lights with energy efficient LEDs that more than halve energy consumption rates compared to the old fittings. This critical work requires a 40 tonne crane truck and a team of experts to carry out the inspections, retrofitting and maintenance of the high masts.

‘The City is placing a special focus on public lighting as part of our targeted strategies to significantly increase area safety, compliment crime prevention efforts and  enhance economic activities in the entire community.

‘The City’s streetlight intervention programme is also making huge progress, with more than 5 000 streetlight related repairs between 11 and 24 September 2024 across the city. While we continue protecting our staff and securing public infrastructure, vandalism, theft and intimidation continue to pose a significant challenge, undermining the City’s service delivery efforts. We ask communities to report suspicious behaviour anonymously to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700,’ said Alderman Limberg.

The Khayelitsha LED lighting project aims to:

·       Increase area visibility – improved public lighting will provide better visibility at night for all residents

·       Reduce crime and enhance safety – enhanced visibility at night will act as a deterrent for criminals

·       Improve economic benefits for the community – improved lighting can assist with boosting economic and entrepreneurial activity in the evening

·       Install energy-efficient infrastructure in the community – LEDs are much more energy-efficient than traditional lighting

Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power

Report suspicious behaviour related to theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700 

Supplied by: City of Cape Town