Cape Town - The City of Cape Town’s Directorate for Energy’s R3.5 million investment in energy-efficient LED lighting for Khayelitsha, aiming to enhance safety and reduce energy consumption has begun to pay off.

City officials report steady progress as they work to upgrade 222 high-mast street lights, marking a significant step towards a brighter, more secure community.

According to the city, its working teams are gradually replacing the old mercury vapour installations of public lights and installing more efficient and brighter LED components.

Mayco member for energy Xanthea Limberg last week conducted an oversight visit to one of the sites of the project in Eyethu, Khayelitsha, where inspectors were carrying out inspections of recently retrofitted LED public lights.

Commenting on the work that has been completed so far by its officials, Limberg said that she was happy with the progress made.

Limberg said: “We have committed to investing R3.5 million into retrofitting 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.

“Currently 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,” she said.

Limberg also commented that her department was using the initiative to place a special focus on public lighting as part of its targeted strategies to significantly increase area safety, complement crime prevention efforts and enhance economic activities in the entire community.

She said: “The City’s streetlight intervention programme is also making huge progress, with more than 5000 streetlight-related repairs between September 11 and 24, 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,” she said.

Cape Argus