Gauteng is testing new technology to stop thieves from stealing and damaging traffic lights, roads and transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said.
She was speaking at the opening of the upgraded K155 road in Modderfontein, TimesLIVE reported. She said the theft of traffic signals and other road equipment remained a big problem for the province, municipalities and national government agencies.
“We are trying to look into alternative solutions. But also involving law enforcement to assist us,” Diale-Tlabela said.
She said the province was currently testing a system meant to prevent traffic signals from being stolen or damaged. She did not give details of the technology.
Diale-Tlabela said more information would be released once the project was ready. The province is also looking at technology that could help identify people who steal public infrastructure.
She said the theft and vandalism seemed to happen mostly between 11pm and 4am.
The department is talking to the South African Police Service and metro police to help prevent the theft and catch those responsible, she said.
“We’ve also engaged with metro police, so we are hopeful that one day we will find a better solution,” Diale-Tlabela said.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi said CCTV cameras should be part of the province’s plans for new roads. He called for cameras on newly opened roads so that authorities can watch vehicles and act quickly when infrastructure is damaged.
“Every road that we open must be supported by CCTV cameras. Every road that we open, we must know every car that passes that road,” Lesufi said.
He said authorities should be able to spot damage to public property as soon as it happens.
“We must know as soon as somebody vandalises our property; we must be the first one to pick it up,” he said.
Lesufi said Gauteng was spending money on roads to improve links between its cities and to help cut traffic congestion. The K155 road in Modderfontein is part of this work and gives the area a better connection.
Diale-Tlabela said the department also wanted communities to benefit from road building through subcontracting work and temporary jobs. She said main contractors were expected to give local businesses a chance to take part in projects.
“It is not enough, but it’s something,” she said.
Diale-Tlabela said the K155 project was finished on time and within budget. She told TimesLIVE the project cost less than R200m.
“We have spent R173m on this road project,” she said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by TimesLIVE. Image: TimesLIVE. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Technology desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Werner Jacobs covers technology for Tzaneen Voice. Werner reports on mobile networks, data prices, internet access, smartphones, apps, AI, cybersecurity and South African tech companies. Each story explains what a new product, price change or policy means for ordinary users in South Africa.