Outages at major junctions disrupt CBD and arterial routes
Pietermaritzburg commuters face mounting delays as a combination of theft, vandalism and infrastructure failures leaves traffic signals out of service across the city. Municipal and public-safety officials say at least 11 key intersections are affected, creating congestion during peak periods and increasing the risk of collisions.
Municipal response and role of Safe City
Safe City Msunduzi reported it had detected three recent incidents of tampering with traffic-signal infrastructure and referred those incidents to SAPS. The organisation’s manager, Jason Herbert, said the outages were having a clear effect on traffic flow.
“We have noted severe traffic congestion in the city due to the outages; we were told that it was due to the numerous cable faults in the Church Street area,” Herbert said. “We have also been assisting in reporting when we see these outages. We have seen that there have been no serious accidents, rather more fender benders.”
Msunduzi Municipality emphasised that the problem was not simply technical failure. In a statement the municipality pointed to cable theft, vandalism and damage to signal controllers as the primary causes of the majority of outages. It warned that these criminal acts impose an unnecessary financial burden on municipal resources and compromise road safety.
How motorists and residents are being affected
With several signals non-operational, motorists have had to treat busy intersections as makeshift four-way stops. That has contributed to long queues during morning and afternoon peaks and greater frustration among commuters, traders and public-transport operators who rely on predictable traffic flow. According to the municipality, no major accidents have been recorded in the incidents reported so far, though minor collisions and fender benders have increased.
- At least 11 intersections affected by non-operational lights.
- Three tampering incidents detected by Safe City Msunduzi and reported to SAPS.
- Primary causes cited: cable theft, vandalism, and damage to controllers.
| Issue | Reported number |
|---|---|
| Non-operational intersections | 11+ |
| Tampering incidents detected by Safe City | 3 |
Appeal to the public and next steps
The municipality has called on residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity near traffic-signal infrastructure to SAPS or municipal law enforcement. “Every report assists in protecting public assets, reducing repair costs and keeping our roads safe,” the municipality said in a statement.
Repair work for damaged cables and controllers is resource-intensive and often requires specialist contractors. Repeated thefts not only delay repairs but also raise costs that could otherwise be used for maintenance and service delivery. Officials say timely reporting can help limit the scale of damage and assist police investigations into the criminal networks involved.
For now, road users are advised to approach non-operational intersections with caution, observe the rules for uncontrolled junctions, and allow extra travel time through the CBD and affected arterial routes. Motorists who witness theft, vandalism or tampering are urged to contact SAPS or municipal law-enforcement so that incidents can be logged and investigated.
Local commuters and businesses watching the situation say they want a sustained municipal plan that combines rapid repairs, strengthened protection of critical infrastructure and targeted policing to deter repeat offenders. Officials say they will continue to monitor outages and work with law enforcement to reduce the frequency and impact of these incidents.
