The King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality has appointed a contractor to carry out the installation of solar energy powered street lights, a project that will be piloted in wards seven, eight and nine of the local authority.
The project, dubbed “Supply and Installation of Solar-powered Street Lights”, was unveiled by KSD Executive Mayor, Nyaniso Nelani, on June 22, and will be carried out over a four-month period.
“The project, in essence, seeks to alleviate the burden on the electricity grid of the municipality by migrating our street lights to solar energy, which will in turn make the municipality cost effective. This project further talks to our smart city concept which we are currently advancing as the municipality,” said Nelani, in outlining the project.
The pilot project has been allocated a budget of R3 million, with 12 temporary work opportunities set to be created for the duration of the project.
The pilot sites for the solar energy powered street lights are Harrow Street, Callaway Street, Chatham Street and Mbuqe Park Street, leading to the cemetery.
The municipality said the project would also ensure that street lights were not affected by the interruption to the power supply due to load-shedding, while simultaneously helping to deter criminal who use the loadshedding periods during the night as an opportunity to commit their criminal activities.
The OR Tambo District Chamber of Business has also added its voice, applauding the installation of the solar energy powered street lights.
“We salute the KSD Municipality for the planned installation of solar-powered street lights as we, the business fraternity, have been advocating for alternative power especially for street lights and traffic lights (robots) in Mthatha,” said OR Tambo Chamber of Business secretary, Dr Andile Nontso.
“This is great work, and we hope it will be spread throughout the entire town to attract new businesses and improve safety,” Nontso added.
The solar-energy powered street lights are said to have a lifespan of 15 years.
