THE HWANGE Local Board (HLB) has embarked on a programme to rehabilitate street lights in the coal mining town.
HLB director of engineering Ndabezinhle Twala said the programme would encourage residents to pay levies without complaining.
"The rehabilitation of tower lights in Empumalanga is going to play a pivotal role in enhancing public safety as it will lead to reduction in the crime rate,” Twala said.
“Our residents also have to know that this rehabilitation programme was made possible by the street lights levies that we have been charging them, which we have put into service delivery.”
Some of the tower lights have been malfunctioning for about five years due to inadequate funding.
The introduction of street lights levy and its utilisation was a contentious issue during the 2024 budget consultation meetings held last year.
Council has been struggling to fund maintenance of its tower lights over the past few years due to poor revenue collection. Prior to the tower lights rehabilitation initiative, cases of people being mugged were on the increase as robbers waylaid their victims under the cover of darkness.
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