City rolls out high-mast lights in informal settlements
As part of our commitment to redress, the City of Cape Town is constantly looking at ways to improve the quality of life in informal settlements through the provision of quality services.
To this end, the City has recently completed the installation of 27 new 40-metre high-mast lights, at a cost of R4,5 million in informal settlements such as Kanana, Bardale, Nkanini, Philippi, Mfuleni, Makhaza and other areas across the city.
Local labour was used where appropriate to provide temporary relief to local residents.
The costs of this project were covered by the City's Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) allocation for the 2011/12 financial year.
In addition to this, the City has obtained R590 000,00 worth of USDG funding for the installation of four additional high-mast lights in informal settlements in Dunoon and Nyanga for the current financial year.
Similar lights will also be installed in other identified informal settlements going forward in the next financial year once funding has been secured.
These lights will a go a long way towards reducing the risks that compromise the safety of communities in informal settlements.
They will also help to close the space for criminal and illegal activities to occur.
The project to install public lights in informal settlements is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that informal settlements have access to free basic services.
I appeal to all community members to assist us in safeguarding these lights.
I encourage the public to contact their closest law enforcement agency to report cable theft to prevent the vandalism of existing public lights. Members of the public can also report any suspicious activity to the City's Cable Theft all-hours number on 0800 222 771.
Residents can help the City to avoid incurring additional costs for repairing or replacing existing municipal infrastructure with funds that could be spent on providing services where they are needed most.
Statement issued by Patricia de Lille, Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, October 11 2012
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