Pretoria: Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has called on communities and road users to help protect critical road infrastructure from theft and vandalism. Following the appointment of contractors last month, the Department of Roads and Transport has intensified the repair, restoration, maintenance, and upgrading of traffic signals at priority intersections across the provincial road network.

According to South African Government News Agency, public infrastructure theft and vandalism place an unnecessary financial burden on the provincial coffers through costly repairs and restoration work. As the department undertakes this restoration programme, Diale-Tlabela has urged all road users, including communities, motorists, bikers, cyclists, pedestrians, and runners, to stand in solidarity with the department in protecting these vital assets. The MEC encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity, theft, or vandalism to the authorities for immediate action.

The programme will be implemented over the next 36 months, focusing on restoring vandalised infrastructure, modernising existing traffic signals, and strengthening the protection and management of these crucial assets. Contractors have already commenced restoration work at multiple priority intersections, with further interventions scheduled across key development corridors and strategic routes.

This initiative represents a significant and ongoing effort to modernise the province's traffic signal infrastructure by using the latest technology while addressing the persistent challenges of cable theft, infrastructure vandalism, illegal connections, and damage caused by vehicle collisions. The MEC emphasized that criminal acts targeting road infrastructure have a direct impact on communities and commuters, affecting everyone who depends on safe and reliable roads and public transport systems.