Birchleigh residents fix streetlights after city fails to act

The Citizen

29-05-2025

Residents of Ebbe Street in Birchleigh took matters into their own hands after months of dealing with cable theft, malfunctioning streetlights and potholes, which made their neighbourhood unsafe, especially after dark.
Despite Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza announcing on March 27 that the city would scrap the fee to replace stolen service cables, residents say the city charged them R1 725 each to restore power, an amount the city said they should pay individually, despite several homes connected to a single pole.
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Frustrated but determined, the community united to solve its problems. They fixed the streetlights, protected the cables to prevent future theft, and restored safety and dignity to their neighbourhood.
'We fixed the lights ourselves and covered the cables with steel so that if someone tries to cut them again, we'll hear it from inside our homes,' said a resident.
Ronell Erasmus said not having working streetlights had severely impacted security and quality of life.
'It's dangerous. You can't go out at night, so you're stuck inside. Even if there's a burglary, you hesitate to go out because you don't know what's waiting for you in the dark,' she explained.
'Now that the lights work, we feel safer. We can see what's going on around the house. It's amazing how everyone pitched in to help. Hats off to everyone who worked on this.'
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The danger extended beyond personal safety, with drivers unfamiliar with the area often swerving into potholes or risking crashes due to poor visibility.
Resident Gerhard de Bruyn said the change had brought great relief.
'Having the lights back on has made such a difference. My wife sometimes travels late, and it just wasn't safe before. There were so many dark corners where people could hide. Now, we feel much more secure,' he said.
De Bruyn praised the spirit of co-operation that made the restoration possible.
'I'm so happy we worked together as a community to get those lights shining again,' he added.
Resident Abraham Magane echoed this sentiment, saying their collective efforts improved safety and strengthened community spirit.
'Unity makes everything possible. If we hadn't done this together, our neighbourhood would still be unsafe. I'm proud of what we achieved, and if the thieves try to return, they won't succeed. We've protected the cables with steel,' he said.
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