Cape Town has landed near the top of a global congestion list, with new data showing the city is now the sixth most congested in the world and motorists spending an average of 96 hours a year stuck in traffic.
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The findings come from the latest INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, as relayed by The Star, which examined congestion trends across 942 cities internationally. While Cape Town’s traffic levels increased by just 2% compared to last year, congestion has climbed sharply by 16% since 2023, highlighting growing pressure on an already strained road network.
Conditions in the city centre underline the severity of the problem, with peak-hour speeds in the CBD dropping to an average of only 18km/h, turning everyday commutes into long, slow crawls.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith attributed much of the pressure to rapid population growth and a surge in vehicle ownership. He pointed out that more than a million new motor vehicles have been sold in South Africa over the past two years, while Cape Town’s population has increased by over 100 000 people since 2023 as more families relocate to the city.
Smith said driver behaviour was compounding the issue, particularly motorists who block intersections when traffic ahead is not moving. He warned that edging into intersections without being able to clear them is an offence that worsens congestion for everyone else. According to Smith, traffic officers are actively recording these violations, with CCTV technology being used to identify offenders who will receive summonses to appear in court.
As traffic volumes rise over the festive season, the City will continue rolling out its ‘Don’t be a Creep’ campaign aimed at preventing intersection blockages. Since the campaign began, more than 140 fines have already been issued.
Mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas echoed the concerns, saying that vehicles creeping into intersections not only cause gridlock but also create serious safety risks by trapping emergency services. He urged motorists to stop behind the line and keep intersections clear, stressing that time spent stuck in traffic takes away from moments meant to be shared with loved ones.
Quintas said law enforcement officers would be stationed at key CBD and major intersections during the busy holiday period, and warned that vehicles could be impounded if the proposed Traffic By-law Amendment is approved early in 2026. He added that warning signs have been installed along major routes where intersection blocking is common.
However, Jacques Weber, head of public safety for the Lower Gardens City Improvement District and chairperson of the Sea Point City Improvement District, argued that enforcement alone would not solve Cape Town’s congestion crisis. He said population growth since 2023 has effectively added about 100,000 vehicles to the city’s roads, which would stretch roughly 340 kilometres if lined up end to end.
Weber called for urgent, practical and structural solutions, including a dedicated congestion and traffic planning department with the authority to act swiftly. He pointed to ongoing congestion along York Road and Cavalcade Road on the Atlantic Seaboard, as well as poorly synchronised traffic lights near the Cape Town International Convention Centre, as examples of issues that could be improved through focused, data-driven intervention.
Without decisive action, Weber warned, congestion in Cape Town will only continue to escalate as population growth shows no signs of slowing, placing even greater strain on the city’s transport infrastructure.
Article shared by Cape Town Etc
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