LIMPOPO'S cleanest town has become the province's darkest town where criminals conduct their activities in the night.
Tzaneen, also known as a the Tropical Paradise, recently attracted more criminals than any other town in the province because most of the street and traffic lights are not operating.
Despite having won several awards in the cleanest town competition as well as municipal Vuna awards that recognise delivery of services to communities, traffic lights at Tzaneen Crossing have not been operating for more than two years.
Street lights in many corners of the town have also not been operating for several years.
This has attracted a lot of criminal activities to the city's streets.
Disgruntled residents and motorists have held several protest marches about the state of the town but all in vain.
Aqua-Park resident Karel Schoeman said he was recently nearly hijacked while he was waiting at a traffic light in the city centre at night .
"But the criminals ran away into the night with my cellphone after they were disturbed by the police who were patrolling the town," he said.
Schoeman said the following week his friend Piet Botha of Abo Park collided with a bakkie at the traffic light near Tzaneen Crossing Mall.
"When we try to complain about the lights the municipality always gives us the run-around."
Tzaneen police spokesperson Captain Miyelani Shikwambane said housebreaking and the theft of car parts were prevalent in the area.
Shikwambane said of late there had been several cases of households being broken into by criminals who stole furniture and other valuables.
Shikwambane pointed to Medi-Park, Flora Park, Aqua-Park, Abo Park and Premier Park as crime flash points.
He warned residents to lock their houses, close windows as soon as it became dark and to park their vehicles in garages in the evening.
Greater Tzaneen municipality mayor Othanniel Mushwana said they were working round the clock to ensure that there were lights in every street of the town.
He said traffic lights were operating well.
He said s a budget had been set aside for revamping the town, including the resurfacing of tar roads.
Poor lighting attracts crime to Limpopo town
LIMPOPO'S cleanest town has become the province's darkest town where criminals conduct their activities in the night.
Tzaneen, also known as a the Tropical Paradise, recently attracted more criminals than any other town in the province because most of the street and traffic lights are not operating.
Despite having won several awards in the cleanest town competition as well as municipal Vuna awards that recognise delivery of services to communities, traffic lights at Tzaneen Crossing have not been operating for more than two years.
Street lights in many corners of the town have also not been operating for several years.
This has attracted a lot of criminal activities to the city's streets.
Disgruntled residents and motorists have held several protest marches about the state of the town but all in vain.
Aqua-Park resident Karel Schoeman said he was recently nearly hijacked while he was waiting at a traffic light in the city centre at night .
"But the criminals ran away into the night with my cellphone after they were disturbed by the police who were patrolling the town," he said.
Schoeman said the following week his friend Piet Botha of Abo Park collided with a bakkie at the traffic light near Tzaneen Crossing Mall.
"When we try to complain about the lights the municipality always gives us the run-around."
Tzaneen police spokesperson Captain Miyelani Shikwambane said housebreaking and the theft of car parts were prevalent in the area.
Shikwambane said of late there had been several cases of households being broken into by criminals who stole furniture and other valuables.
Shikwambane pointed to Medi-Park, Flora Park, Aqua-Park, Abo Park and Premier Park as crime flash points.
He warned residents to lock their houses, close windows as soon as it became dark and to park their vehicles in garages in the evening.
Greater Tzaneen municipality mayor Othanniel Mushwana said they were working round the clock to ensure that there were lights in every street of the town.
He said traffic lights were operating well.
He said s a budget had been set aside for revamping the town, including the resurfacing of tar roads.
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