Cape Town expresses concern over MyCiTi bus funding cuts

The City of Cape Town has raised concerns that the national government's decision to phase out the Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) by 2027/28 will jeopardize the MyCiTi bus network. The grant has served as the primary source of funding for the network's operations and planned expansions.

National Treasury and Transport Minister Barbara Creecy have indicated that the grant is being phased out due to national underperformance, noting that it has not improved public transport access relative to the investments made. The government intends to redirect these funds toward passenger rail as part of a savings initiative to eliminate inefficient programs.

Cape Town's mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, argued that the MyCiTi system has been successful, noting a 68% growth in usage since 2021 and over 19 million annual passenger journeys. He cautioned against penalizing successful systems due to failures in other metros. The planned phase 2A expansion to the Cape Flats, scheduled for July 2027, aims to serve 1.4 million residents, but its future remains uncertain under the new fiscal policy.