As traffic congestion in Cape Town escalates, commuters are urged to prepare for significant delays due to roadworks and cruise ship arrivals.
Image: Armand Hough/ Independent Newspapers
The sights, the sounds… and the traffic. Cape Town commuters are reaching their wits’ end as congestion in and around the CBD continues to worsen.
While the MyCiTi infrastructure upgrade aims to improve public transport, many residents are spending hours just trying to leave their neighbourhoods.
Mitchells Plain resident, Venecia Valentine, describes her daily struggle:
"I leave my home at 5:45 am, but I only get to work in Blouberg three hours later. The traffic is unbearable, and there's no solution in sight.
"We left Rocklands at 5:45 and hit traffic on Weltevreden Drive, which leads to Jakes Gerwel. Crawling between Spine Road and the R300 for an hour, we arrived at the office at 8:39—an everyday occurrence"
The congestion has also forced drivers to cut through neighbouring areas, worsening traffic flow in surrounding suburbs.
Strandfontein resident Alwin Christians highlights the impact:
"We take Baden Powell Drive to work, and it's a nightmare. We now leave 30 minutes earlier just to be on time. Ongoing roadworks and detours only make it worse."
According to the City of Cape Town, the multi-year MyCiTi expansion project aims to provide direct, scheduled, safe, and affordable public transport to more than 30 communities along key transport corridors—stretching from Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to Wynberg and Claremont.
However, for many commuters, ongoing roadworks and detours have made daily travel increasingly challenging.
In addition to existing congestion, major road closures and events will add to the city’s traffic woes this week.
Visitors and commuters heading to the V&A Waterfront should expect heavy delays due to the arrival of two cruise ships, MSC Musica and Norwegian Dawn, at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal between 07:00 and 19:00.
With over 5,000 passengers disembarking, congestion is anticipated at entry and exit points. Additional traffic marshals will be deployed to help manage the flow.
The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate has announced a full closure of Voortrekker Road west-bound between Durban Road and Rhos Street from Wednesday, 12 March 2025, to Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
The closure is necessary for the excavation and repair of damaged stormwater pipes. The east-bound carriageway towards Kuils River will remain open.
Councillor Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, urges patience:
"From 12 March, both west-bound lanes of Voortrekker Road between Durban Road and Rhos Street will be closed until 7 May. Traffic will be diverted via Durban Road and AJ West Road.
"These repairs are crucial for maintaining stormwater infrastructure and preventing flooding during heavy rains. We appreciate residents’ patience as we complete this work."
With ongoing roadworks and worsening congestion, Cape Town motorists and public transport users are advised to:
kim.kay@iol.co.za
IOL
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