Pictured is Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility who said two main stations at the open day engagement with regards to the current road works in Mitchell's Plain focused on general road upgrades and the MyCiTi infrastructure.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Mitchell’s Plain will be the first area where Cape Town’s new electric MyCiTi bus fleet will begin operating, with the launch set for 2027. This follows the scheduled completion of roadworks and infrastructure upgrades by December 2026.
An open day was held on Tuesday April 15 from 3pm to 7pm at the sub-council chambers to give residents information about the projects and timelines.
“Not everyone is free at a fixed time due to family responsibilities,” said Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility. “We chose this time slot to reach as many people as possible.”
Two main stations at the engagement focused on general road upgrades and the MyCiTi infrastructure. One of the key projects is the upgrade of Jakes Gerwel Drive, part of Phase 2 of the MyCiTi expansion. Mr Quintas said that anyone using the road would already see the improvements and that the upgrades were a response to requests from the community.
The City is aiming to complete offsite work on Jakes Gerwel Drive by November, depending on dry weather conditions. Work with asphalt (tar) cannot continue in wet conditions, which may cause delays if rain starts early or lasts long into the season.
An open day was held on Tuesday April 15 from 3pm to 7pm at the sub-council chambers to give residents information about the projects and timelines. Pictured are city officials and sub-council 17 staff at the engagement.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Work is also underway on Morgenster Road and Wespoort Drive, both badly deteriorated and needing replacement. "It’s not ideal to do resurfacing in winter, but delaying it would worsen the situation," Mr Quintas said. Currently, only one lane is closed, with construction taking place outside of peak hours to limit traffic disruption. These road upgrades are targeted for completion by May.
Az Berman Drive is being upgraded as part of the MyCiTi bus network expansion. Once finished, the new routes will connect Mitchell’s Plain to Khayelitsha, Hanover Park, Philippi, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Athlone, Wynberg, and Claremont, among others.
The current information on the road works in Mitchell's Plain.
Image: Supplied
To limit the impact on residents and motorists, the City said it is working only during off-peak hours, avoiding night work where possible, adjusting traffic signal timings, and deploying additional traffic officers to assist at intersections and to monitor for criminal activities such as smash-and-grabs.
For about R1,000 a month, the MyCiTi expansion will offer residents unlimited travel, which Mr Quintas said would be among the cheapest public transport options after rail. He added that a functioning rail system would further support reducing congestion by offering an alternative to private car use.
Woodlands resident Alison De Villiers, who attended the open day after hearing about it on a community WhatsApp group, raised concerns about the simultaneous roadworks affecting main entry and exit routes. After viewing the project plans, she said she understood the broader goal of saving costs and improving travel once the projects are complete.
She said that in future, residents needed better consultation before multiple major upgrades are scheduled at the same time.
Woodlands resident Arthur Cowley said only twenty residents from Mitchell's Plain attended the roadshow, which was disappointing and showed poor community engagement. The event was informative, but key concerns remain unaddressed.
"I asked for clear plans on minimising disruption during construction, stronger traffic law enforcement, especially regarding minibus taxis and Avanza drivers, and improved safety at known hotspots on Jakes Gerwel and AZ Berman Drives. I also wrote to Premier Alan Winde urging urgent local investment to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and improve community safety. Without serious local development, Mitchell's Plain will continue to suffer from poverty-driven social problems," he said.