​By Staff Writer
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has appealed to motorists and communities to safeguard road infrastructure as the work to restore traffic signals has started in earnest. 
This comes after the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport partnered with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to undertake installation and maintenance of traffic control equipment along provincial roads within the City of Johannesburg. The partnership has started to bear fruit with a number of intersections restored or undergoing repairs.
"We plead to communities to immediately report any suspicious acts of vandalism or theft of traffic signals to law enforcement agencies for action," appealed the MEC Diale-Tlabela. 
These works are critical in the restoration of traffic light services to improve safety and facilitate mobility in and around the city.
This is borne by the fact that a number of critical intersections have been restored whilst others are undergoing repairs, with the JRA busy with the works.
Repair work is underway at the following intersections:
Main Rd (R55) & Arthur Rd
Main Rd & Sloane St
Main Rd & Mopani Rd
Witkoppen Rd & Kingfisher Dr
Witkoppen Rd & Cedar Rd
Winnie Mandela Dr & Leslie Ave
Malibongwe Dr & Kapital St 
Malibongwe Dr & River Rd
Woodmead & M1 North
The JRA is working on, amongst others, rebuilding vandalised intersections including adding safety and secure components such as strengthened controller boxes with electronic keys and straps, underground chambers, secure bollards around poles as well as CCTV cameras with built in intelligent analytics.
In February 2025, the GDRT and JRA signed a service level agreement to restore, protect traffic signals from vandalism, cable theft and criminality.
In terms of the partnership, the JRA is required to undertake installation and maintenance of traffic lights as determined by the Department, valid for a year with an option for extension.
Johannesburg MMC for Roads and Transport, Cllr Kenny Kunene indicated "we are elated as the Transport Department and JRA to have finally agreed upon this mandate, as it will capacitate us to service our communities more expeditiously. Of the 251 traffic signals under provincial jurisdiction, we have been tasked with the critical repair of 60 of the most vandalised signals, a commitment that extends through the end of the current financial year in June 2025". 
As a temporary measure, the Department has, in some areas, turned signalized intersections into four-way stops in a bid to improve safety and flow of traffic.
"Traffic signals along key arterial routes have been prioritised and we are encouraged by the easing of congestion", said JRA Chief Executive Officer, Zweli Nyathi commending the restoration work undertaken by teams, adding, "We now look forward to seeing more intersections repaired and working."