IN CONVERSATION WITH LESIBA MPYA

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela convened a stakeholder engagement meeting on Tuesday, bringing together law-enforcement agencies and municipalities to strengthen coordinated responses to road safety challenges across the province. The engagement focused on addressing infrastructure failures, the ongoing theft and vandalism of traffic signals, and related safety concerns affecting road users in Gauteng. It follows sustained community complaints regarding non-functional traffic signals, inadequate street lighting, criminal activity along key transport corridors, and delays in law-enforcement response. Gauteng has approximately 4 500 signalised intersections, of which the Department is responsible for 547. Persistent vandalism and theft have resulted in widespread service disruptions, increased road safety risks, and rising maintenance and repair costs. During the engagement, MEC Diale-Tlabela emphasised that the theft and vandalism of traffic signals poses a direct threat to road safety, economic activity, and service delivery. She reaffirmed government’s commitment to restoring functionality, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring safer roads for all users. The MEC further noted that road safety challenges require a coordinated and integrated response across all spheres of government, including law enforcement and municipalities, to ensure effective and sustainable solutions. She also highlighted that infrastructure failure contributes not only to safety risks but also to economic losses through congestion, delays, and increased public expenditure on repairs and replacements. A high-level stakeholder session will be convened, bringing together law enforcement, municipalities, and private sector partners, including insurers, to develop a coordinated implementation roadmap with clear accountability mechanisms. In line with the Gauteng Infrastructure Act, vandalism of public infrastructure is a criminal offence, and authorities will work closely with law enforcement to ensure accountability for perpetrators. The Department will also intensify efforts to quantify and recover financial losses resulting from infrastructure damage. Communities have been encouraged to actively report incidents of vandalism, criminal activity, and faulty infrastructure to the relevant authorities to support ongoing efforts to improve road safety and service delivery. Instagram · Twitter