Gauteng legislature backs JRA to restore Joburg’s traffic lights

By Nkhensani Chauke

The Portfolio Committee on Transport and Logistics in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) has endorsed the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) for the installation and maintenance of traffic lights in Johannesburg.

This decision follows a recent briefing where the committee was informed about the increasing incidents of road infrastructure violations and the rise in crimes targeting traffic lights in Gauteng.

These incidents are primarily driven by the theft of copper cables and scrap.

According to the GDRT, the department has suffered significant losses estimated at R30 million between 2021 and 2023 due to the replacement of stolen and vandalised traffic signal infrastructure across the province.

“The committee was informed that the department manages 400 traffic signals located at intersections across five municipalities in Gauteng, with Johannesburg having 251 signals, Tshwane 52, and Ekurhuleni 65,” said Scheemann, a committee member.

He said that Johannesburg experiences the highest incidents of