Broken streetlights across Lenasia spark fears over crime and safety
Community members say the prolonged outages have affected their sense of security, with some questioning why such an essential public service has not been restored despite numerous reports.
Residents across Lenasia are raising alarm over non-functioning streetlights, stating that large parts of the community are being left in darkness at night, increasing fears over crime and public safety.
Several streets, including Azure Street, Multan Road and Banaras Circle, have had faulty streetlights for extended periods.
Residents say they have repeatedly logged complaints with City Power, but despite reference numbers and follow-ups, many lights remain out of service.
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The lack of street lighting has become a growing concern, particularly at a time when residents are already grappling with high crime levels.
Commuters, pedestrians, motorists, and families returning home after dark are forced to navigate poorly lit streets, leaving many feeling vulnerable to criminal activity.
Community members say the prolonged outages have affected their sense of security, with some questioning why such an essential public service has not been restored despite numerous reports.
Following concerns raised by residents, the Lenasia Rising Sun approached City Power for answers.
City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, acknowledged the problem and said the utility is aware of the affected streets.
“City Power acknowledges the concerns raised by residents in Lenasia about dysfunctional streetlights in the above-mentioned streets in Lenasia. Our team has initiated an insurance claim relating to affected streets. Once the insurance approval is granted, the repairs and reinstatement of the affected infrastructure will commence without delay to restore the power supply,” said Mangena.
He explained that the utility is battling ongoing theft and vandalism, which continue to hamper repair efforts.
“City Power is currently facing a high rate of theft and vandalism incidents in the area, which is a primary challenge and cause of power interruption on our streetlights. These incidents often result in missing lightbulbs, damaged poles, and non-functional infrastructure, requiring not only repairs but also the submission of insurance claims before major restoration work can proceed,” he stated.
He added that repeated vandalism places significant pressure on the utility’s resources.
“The impact of theft and vandalism in and around Lenasia is severe. The frequency of these incidents makes it increasingly difficult to source and replace materials at the pace required to expedite supply restoration. In many cases, the same infrastructure is repeatedly targeted, further diverting funds that would otherwise be allocated to maintenance, upgrades, and improving the reliability of supply,” he continued.
Despite these challenges, Mangena said that City Power remains committed to improving response times through better resource allocation and partnerships.
He encouraged residents to continue reporting faulty streetlights via City Power’s online reporting platform, by calling 011 490-7484, or the call centre on 080-020-2925.
“We urge customers to follow up, if necessary, as multiple reports help us prioritise high-impact areas,” he said.
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While residents acknowledge that theft and vandalism remain a serious problem, many believe that restoring streetlights should remain a priority.
They say functioning street lighting is not only about visibility but also about creating safer neighbourhoods and deterring criminal activity.
As winter nights grow longer, the community hopes repairs will begin soon, bringing much-needed light – and peace of mind – back to Lenasia’s streets.
