Doubts over the future of MyCiTi buses as Treasury ends grant

Cape Town's MyCiTi bus network faces uncertainty as the national government ends the Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) within three years, according to the City's mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas. The grant was the primary funding source for MyCiTi's development and expansion. Treasury Minister Enoch Godongwana stated in the February Budget speech that the grant has not improved public transport access relative to the investments made.

The decision is part of the government's initiative to save R12-billion by eliminating underperforming programs. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy also confirmed the grant's underperformance.

The City's mayco member emphasized that the grant's phasing out would impact future network expansion, operational sustainability, and the existing MyCiTi bus service. MyCiTi's Phase 2A expansion, set to begin in July 2027, will benefit over 1.4-million residents across 30 neighborhoods. The grant, allocated for a decade in 2018, remains in place until June 2028, covering capital infrastructure, the metro-south east corridor construction, and MyCiTi depots and stations.

However, without national funding certainty, Quintas warned of potential long-term sustainability and expansion challenges.

The City is exploring mitigation strategies, such as cost-saving measures, but acknowledges these are insufficient without national funding certainty. The City plans to buy only 70 buses for Phase 2A, not 221, and build seven managed stations, not 12. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed concern over the risk posed to the new Cape Flats route and the entire MyCiTi service.

Research and communications coordinator at #UniteBehind, Adam Narain, criticized the City's draft integrated transport plan for continuing to allocate PTNG funds in the plan, despite the grant's phase-out. He stressed the need for long-term certainty and performance-based funding to avoid the same fate as Dial-a-Ride, which faced fare increases, reduced service, and exclusion of users when underfunded.