City Power has raised alarm over what it describes as “intentional acts of sabotage” targeting Johannesburg’s streetlights, as the city prepares to host the G20 Summit. The power utility said several routes have suffered repeated vandalism, undermining months of repair work and posing a serious risk to safety and visibility.
“In recent weeks, we have observed a concerning pattern where newly repaired streetlights are routinely mowed down or destroyed within days, without any components being stolen,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
“This suggests that these are not typical cases of theft or vandalism, but intentional acts of sabotage.”
According to City Power, the most affected areas include the M1 between Southgate and Killarney Mall, the M2 in both directions, Joe Slovo Drive, and Malibongwe Drive. Technicians confirmed that the lights inspected along the M1 were operational on Thursday night but were found switched off by Friday morning.
Streetlights vandalism: Disrupting the city’s progress
Mangena explained that the destruction was severely undermining Johannesburg’s readiness for the international event.
“Over the past few months, we’ve made tremendous progress in restoring and maintaining streetlights across the city, especially along strategic routes,” he said.
“The motive and perpetrators behind these acts remain unknown, but we suspect the involvement of individuals or groups seeking to disrupt service delivery…or even those who may stand to benefit financially from such disruptions, including unscrupulous contractors.”
The suspected sabotage comes as Johannesburg finalises major infrastructure projects meant to improve the city’s image ahead of the summit. City Power believes the attacks could be motivated by efforts to exploit maintenance contracts or create false perceptions of incompetence.
Call for Tighter Security
To curb further damage, Mangena urged law enforcement agencies to strengthen patrols and surveillance across the affected areas.
“We call on the police and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department to intensify patrols to control the destruction of City Power streetlights,” he said.
City Power has also appealed to residents to report suspicious activities near streetlights, warning that the continued vandalism could hinder preparations for one of Johannesburg’s most high-profile international events.
