The City of Cape Town has moved to dispel growing public concern over claims that a “congestion charge” is being introduced for motorists, saying recent media reports have been misleading and that no such policy is being implemented now or in the near future.

The City said it had “noted with concern recent media reports causing unnecessary alarm about a ‘congestion charge’ for Cape Town,” and sought to “set the record straight: this is not something the City is introducing.”

The City emphasised that the idea of a congestion charge had merely been referenced in its Revised Travel Demand Management Strategy (TDMS), a long-term planning document aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility options.

“A congestion charge is not being implemented now or in the near future. Sensationalist reports have misrepresented a single idea in our Revised Travel Demand Management Strategy,” the City said.

“The strategy clearly states that the City would not consider or even investigate a congestion tax or charge until public transport is the most reliable and effective option to travel.”

Officials noted that Cape Town is still a long way from achieving that level of public transport reliability.

“We are investing heavily in Cape Town’s public transport offering, but there is still a very long way to go before buses and trains are a reliable and attractive alternative to private cars,” the City said.

The municipality also pointed out that there is currently no provision for congestion charging in national legislation, and therefore the idea remains purely theoretical at this stage.

“As a forward-looking document, it includes theoretical measures that could only be considered in the long term, based on studies of other world cities. However, only measures that are appropriate for the Cape Town of today will be implemented,” the City said.

The City added that introducing a congestion charge under current conditions would go against its goals for equitable mobility.

“A congestion charge in our current system would restrict access, not increase it, which is the opposite of our goal to make mobility more equitable for all Capetonians,” it explained.

Instead, the City is calling on residents to engage with the actual contents of the strategy and contribute ideas that could make a difference in the short term.

“We are asking residents to share their thoughts on measures that can realistically be implemented in the immediate future,” the City said.

“We are proposing practical, positive measures to improve how we get around today, including encouraging remote work and better access to local services, improving park & ride facilities to support public transport use, and making pedestrian and cycling experiences safer and more enjoyable for everyone.”

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