Mayco member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg, during a joint City–Eskom intervention in Dunoon to restore public lighting infrastructure
Image: SUPPLIED
A joint service delivery intervention between the City of Cape Town’s Energy Directorate and Eskom Distribution is showing measurable progress in improving public lighting in Dunoon.
The area, which falls fully under Eskom’s electricity supply network, saw both teams working on site last week to address faulty, vandalised, and encroached infrastructure, while also responding to customer queries and service requests.
The City's mayoral committee member for energy, Xanthea Limberg, led the coordinated intervention, which forms part of wider efforts to improve electricity-related services and restore public lighting in the community.
She said: “City Energy and Eskom’s joint efforts in Dunoon are making significant progress. We are attending to faulty public lighting infrastructure, including several high mast lights, some of which could not be fixed for extended periods due to the prevalence of servitude encroachments that limit our ability to access sites to carry out repair and maintenance work.”
According to a City statement, widespread servitude encroachments and illegal electricity connections in parts of Dunoon have previously delayed maintenance and restricted access to high mast lighting infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, progress has been made, with nine out of 14 high mast lights now fully operational.
The City said that this has already led to a noticeable improvement in public lighting in affected areas, with repairs prioritised where access and technical conditions allow.
The City confirmed that its Energy Directorate, alongside Eskom and contractors, is using heavy machinery and specialist technical teams to repair and maintain high mast lights.
Engineering assessments are also underway to find solutions for sites where access is severely restricted, said the statement.
In more complex areas, teams are mapping crane access routes and exploring alternative engineering approaches to reach encroached infrastructure.
The City has allocated a maintenance budget of R4.9 million for the district, which includes Dunoon, for the current financial year.
Ms Limberg said the long-term goal is to ensure that Dunoon is better lit and safer, but stressed that community cooperation remains essential.
“We are urging residents to report acts of vandalism, illegal connections, and any damage to electricity infrastructure. Protecting these assets is key to keeping our communities safely illuminated,” she said.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the South African Police Service or the City’s Law Enforcement units.
Although Dunoon is supplied by Eskom, the City is responsible for public lighting across the metro and is currently undertaking high mast repairs in several other areas, including Bishop Lavis and Khayelitsha.
The City has also launched its “Protect Your Power” campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the impact of vandalism, theft, and illegal connections on electricity infrastructure and service delivery.
In a statement Eskom has called for a "hands-off" approach to infrastructure, saying that vandalism and illegal connections in the Western Cape may trigger load reduction, which is separate from national load shedding.
Residents can report suspicious activity anonymously to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) on 021 480 7700.
Illegal scrap yards can be reported to the “Copperheads” hotline on 0800 222 771 (24/7, toll-free and anonymous).
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Dunoon sees improved public lighting as coordinated efforts between the City and Eskom address damaged and encroached infrastructure.
Image: SUPPLIED