In a display of efficiency and coordination, the Gauteng Provincial Government on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, launched multiple service delivery programmes, aimed at addressing pressing needs across various sectors.
These synchronized initiatives showcased the government’s commitment to improving the lives of Gauteng residents by streamlining essential services, from infrastructure upgrades, and healthcare access to strengthening crime-fighting efforts.
Among these is the Department of Roads and Transport’s ‘Adopt and Protect a Robot Campaign”.
The campaign, launched at Fourways Mall, north of Johannesburg is a public-private initiative to create a strong partnerships between the government, private sector, and local communities to tackle traffic congestion, road infrastructure theft and vandalism as well as lawlessness.
“We are on the cusp of announcing a partnership with various businesses and residential forums/associations aimed at tackling the issue of theft and vandalism. A total of 16 MOUs have been signed,” said MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.
She highlighted that the Department manages more than 400 traffic signals at intersections and the prevalence of vandalism, theft and power outages had resulted in the malfunction of major several traffic signals, giving rise to severe traffic congestion and road accidents.
The MEC added that with the foot patrollers, the Department, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), will undertake research on alternative technologies such as drones to prevent theft and vandalism of traffic signals. The Department will procure new service providers over a 36-month cycle for repairs, technological upgrades and maintenance of provincial traffic signals.
To further tackle the problem, the Department is establishing a centralised issue management system.
These partnership seeks to keep traffic signals running smoothly with backup power from local businesses and protect them from vandalism, cable theft, and crime.
SOURCED FROM THE GPG WEBSITE.
