Note to Editors: Attached please find a soundbite in English here by Evert Du Plessis MPL.
15 traffic lights along Vereeniging Road in Alberton, Ekurhuleni, have been non-functional for three years, putting road users’ lives in danger.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng demands that the MEC for Roads and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, immediately fix all non-functioning traffic lights in the province.
The Vereeniging and Potgieter Road intersection, used by businesses operating from the Alrode Industrial Park to transport goods to other parts of the province, is one of many intersections in the area with non-functional traffic lights. This has resulted in many accidents and daily congestion.
See photos here, here, here, and here.
Furthermore, MEC Diale-Tlabela has replied to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) on the maintenance budget for traffic lights, saying R79 million has been allocated for the 2026/ 2027 financial year. The MEC indicates that the funding is insufficient because of numerous incidents of vandalism and cable theft. This means that the department must prioritise allocating sufficient budget for traffic lights maintenance.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would conduct a regular assessment of all traffic lights on provincial roads to determine how many are not functional. This will ensure that traffic lights are fixed within the seven-day standard. We will also ensure that an adequate budget is allocated for traffic light maintenance.
Gauteng road users and businesses deserve a government that is committed to maintaining key infrastructure such as traffic lights. It is time to stop the chaos and start delivering services to all residents. This is not a privilege; residents pay rates and taxes for services.