Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says there are 4,786 functional traffic signals across Gauteng, with 699 non-functional lights still to be repaired, while 26,000 of 31,000 identified potholes have been fixed across the Gauteng City Region.
Lesufi made the remarks during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Monday night.
He was reflecting on the government’s performance over the past year and outlining priorities for the year ahead.
In February 2025, Lesufi identified 13 priorities in his address aimed at tackling Gauteng’s most pressing challenges.
These include water shortages, cable theft and vandalism, non-functioning traffic lights, potholes, crime, the growth of informal settlements, electricity supply constraints such as load shedding and load reduction, rising gender-based violence and femicide, drug abuse, strained healthcare services, a shortage of schools, deteriorating infrastructure and central business districts, and unemployment.
Despite these commitments, service delivery across the province remains under strain, many townships and informal settlements.
“As you may recall, in the 2025 SOPA, we committed to the immediate replacement of traffic signals across our province and the resurfacing and upgrading of roads. To date, jointly with all our municipalities, we are standing at 4 786 functional traffic signals.”
“We have a mission to fix the remaining 699 non-functional traffic lights to complete the task,” he said.
He described vandalism of traffic signals as a “vicious cycle.”
“We fix them, and they get vandalised. Together with the CSIR, we are piloting a new alternative technology to assist us with the eradication of theft and vandalism of traffic lights.”
He called on residents to report any suspicious acts of vandalism immediately.
“Let us work together as responsible residents to promote law and order.”
Lesufi also addressed the problem of potholes, with many roads across the province riddled with damage that makes travel difficult.
Poor infrastructure has left potholes exposed and prone to water damage.
He cited a recent post on X by a Gauteng resident: “The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has fixed every single pothole in Bryanston in less than two days, many of which have existed for years. Oh, there is a by-election’, what a coincidence’.”
According to Lesufi, the comment affirms that potholes are being fixed as part of broader efforts to improve the province.
“I guess democratic culture demands scepticism of its participants. But it does not stop us doing what has to be done!”
He said that of 31,000 identified potholes, 26,000 have been repaired across the Gauteng City Region.
“In addition to fixing potholes, we are also resurfacing provincial roads, including K101 linking Midrand to the N1, the rehabilitation of K175 from P6-1 (K201) to Ekandustria (K14), and the upgrading of D1814 in Bronkhorstspruit,” he said.
He said the provincial government and municipalities will pool resources to use asphalt plants owned by the City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane to permanently address potholes as part of building state capacity, he said.
“Going forward, we have appointed the three metros of Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni to fix potholes on our provincial roads within their jurisdictions,” he added.
He said crime and lawlessness were initially met with skepticism when the province introduced three helicopters to fight crime, describing early interventions as having been labeled gimmicks.
“When we declared that we would install almost 20,000 CCTVs, we were told it’s pie in the sky,” he said.
“When we appointed almost 10,000 young unemployed youth to fight crime, we were told we were campaigning. When we said we have profiled 392 kingpins and have now arrested 101, we were told it would never happen.”
He said all municipalities have joined forces to combat crime and signed a memorandum of understanding to share resources across the province.
Despite the ridicule, he said, recent crime statistics released Friday by acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia show crime in Gauteng is declining.
Murder decreased 11% year over year, sexual offenses, including rape, fell 8% year over year, and property-related crime dropped 7.8%.
“We are also pleased that our police have shown no mercy upon those who meant to harm them,” he said.
“During an armed confrontation with the police, 26 criminals were permanently removed from the face of the earth. It is within this context that 11 cash-in-transit kingpins were arrested.”
Lesufi said it is concerning that 21 of the top 30 police stations with the highest reported carjackings are in Gauteng.
“This confirms why the new number plate system launched by the provincial government must be executed with speed,” he said.
He thanked the minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kabuyi, Cachalia and the public protector Kholeka Gcaleka for paving the way for the gazetting of nearly 10,000 traffic wardens, known as “Amapanyaza,” who are now formally accorded peace officer status.
The declaration follows a report released on October 22, 2025 by Gcaleka, which stemmed from a complaint lodged in September 2023 by Advocate Paul Hoffman, director of Accountability Now.
The complaint raised concerns about the establishment, appointment, and deployment of crime prevention wardens.
Gcaleka found that the wardens’ appointment lacked a clear legislative framework, leaving powers, training, and accountability undefined.
IOL Politics
Simon Majadibodu
iol.co.za
