Following the partnership between the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and Sandton Central Management District (SCMD) to keep Sandton Central’s traffic lights functional during power outages, all 32 traffic light intersections in the urban node are now supported by secondary power through the involvement of Sandton corporates.
Says Elaine Jack, Manager of SCMD, “This initiative, launched in May 2023 with Investec as its first partner, allows for a redesign of signal wiring by JRA and secondary connection to power backup, whether solar, generator or UPS from the corporate partner’s nearest adjacent property.
“We are enormously proud that the collaboration with JRA was first implemented in Sandton Central through its property owners. This has set a new benchmark for addressing urban challenges and enhancing urban community living standards, appropriate for Greater Johannesburg’s integrated urban node.”
Since its launch, the initiative has seen remarkable success. It has inspired similar requests from other parts of the city, and to date, a total of 131 intersections across Johannesburg are now powered through this model. An additional 33 intersections are scheduled for completion within this financial year. The JRA has also received repeat requests from companies to add more connections, proving the initiative is making a tangible difference for the city’s residents.
While the secondary power initiative is resolving a major challenge, the JRA continues to monitor and address any other road safety concerns.
Zweli Nyathi, CEO of the Johannesburg Roads Agency, says, “This partnership with the private sector is a prime example of what we can achieve when we work together to solve complex urban problems. The Sandton Central initiative has not only improved traffic flow but has also become a blueprint for a resilient and collaborative city. It proves that by pooling resources and expertise, we can create smarter, safer, and more efficient road networks for all.”
The traffic light secondary power partnership in Sandton Central attracted strong participation from corporates in the urban node including Nedbank, Sasol, Growthpoint, Discovery Ltd, Old Mutual, Liberty Group Limited and Pareto, RMB, Southern Sun, Redefine Properties, Momentum, Investec, Santam, Zenprop, Legacy, Blue Label, Netcare and The Cavaleros Group.
