Cape Town’s MyCiti gets big boost amid expansion plans

MyCiti bus

The City of Cape Town says it subsidises the MyCiti bus service with 4.2% of property rates revenue each year as approved by council and that it is required to make a rates contribution in order to qualify for the Public Transport Network Grant from the national government.

The municipality is currently busy with the second phase of the MyCiti expansion operation, which will link over 30 suburbs with the inner city.

The municipality’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, says like with most major cities around the world including London, Paris and New York, the City views subsidising the service as an investment in its residents, particularly those from poorer households.

“The rates contribution by the City over the medium term is R578.3m in the 25/26 financial year, R627.7m in the 26/27 financial year and R797.2m in the 27/28 financial year. The Public Transport Network Grant will not be given to the City,” says Quintas.

He says the return on the investment in the MyCiti service is R5.39 billion to the City over the medium term which is the 25/26 to 27/28 financial years and thus it make financial sense to invest in MyCiti.

Quintas says phase two of the expansion is expected to connect residents from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha to various southern suburbs including the city bowl.

“The Ccity anticipates that the second phase of the MyCiti service will attract a significant amount of commuters, as it would also provide residents from Khayelistha, Philippi, Nyanga to Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain to Hanover Park, Wynberg and Claremont with a direct, efficient and scheduled public service,” he adds.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced a R10 billion investment to expand the MyCiTi bus service. He visited construction sites in Claremont and Duinefontein, where new routes worth R7 billion are underway. pic.twitter.com/PPZ8g913n1

— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 16, 2025