Passenger rail, formalising the taxi-industry under the spotlight at City’s Urban Mobility Summit
19 September 2023
The City of Cape Town will be hosting an Urban Mobility Summit early in October in celebration of national Transport Month. Independent experts, leaders in government and industry, and transport stakeholders will participate in panel discussions about challenges that have a direct impact on commuters, Capetonians, and our local economy.
The Urban Mobility Summit, themed 'Building resilience and driving transport reform' will be hosted in Cape Town, on 3 and 4 October 2023.
The topics for discussion are in the public interest, not only for those living and working in Cape Town, but for all South Africans.
- Public transport reform is on top of the agenda, with discussions about the devolution of passenger rail to the City, and the formalisation of the minibus-taxi industry on the programme for the first day. The latest data from the City's Rail Feasibility Study will also be presented.
Other topics for discussion include sustainable mobility in the midst of growing urban populations, traffic congestion, dwindling funding and more unpredictability; and how we create a liveable, people-friendly city when development is dominated by private-car use.
- Day 2 will kick off with robust discussions about the City's efforts to keep on delivering services when theft, intimidation, robbery and even murder undermine our infrastructure programmes in hotspot areas.
Innovation to beat load-shedding, vandalism and theft of infrastructure, and planning for a more volatile future, will wrap up the second day's proceedings.
'The panel discussions will give the public and attendees insight into the challenges, solutions, and way forward on matters that affect each and every person living and working in Cape Town, and in fact, across South Africa.
'Whether you are a commuter from Khayelitsha or Hammanskraal, Polokwane or Tshwane, Joburg, Mangaung or Gqeberha, we are all facing similar challenges that impede our mobility and productivity, with the cost of transport rising beyond affordability, and long travelling times ruining our quality of life.
'In Cape Town, passenger rail has imploded under PRASA's watch. The question remains, how will we turn this around when there is little, if any, commitment from National Government to devolve rail to competent municipalities?
'Twenty two percent of commuters in Cape Town use minibus-taxis. This industry can benefit tremendously from formalisation and modern technology, but how, and who is going to fund the bill?
'On these days, we will hear from independent experts, leaders in government and industry, and stakeholders on what we must do differently, and how, to get people where they need to be in the most cost effective and efficient manner so that our economy can grow and create jobs, while ensuring our city is people-friendly and resilient to climate change and other shocks that are beyond our control.
'The summit will be livestreamed so that the public can follow the discussions online. Save the date, and watch out for more updates in coming days. These are conversations not to be missed,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
