Cape Town's Traffic Woes Intensify, Ranked 6th Most Congested Worldwide

Cape Town Ranks Sixth Globally in Traffic Congestion

Cape Town, South Africa, has been officially ranked as the sixth most congested city in the world, according to the newly released INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard. The report highlights a worsening trend, with the average driver in the Mother City losing approximately 96 hours annually to traffic in 2025. This figure represents an increase from 94 hours in the previous year, and sees Cape Town climb three places from its ninth position in 2024.

A Global Outlier Among Major Metropolises

The INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, which analyzed traffic conditions across 942 urban areas globally, places Cape Town behind only five other cities in terms of congestion severity: Istanbul, Mexico City, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. Notably, Cape Town is the only African city to feature in the global Top 10, underscoring unique regional challenges. The data reveals that Cape Town's average morning travel speed into the central business district is a mere 11 mph (17 km/h), a statistic comparable to major global hubs like London and Paris. In contrast, Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, ranked 29th globally, with motorists losing an average of 59 hours annually.

Underlying Causes and Economic Impact

The rising congestion in Cape Town is attributed by the INRIX report to several key factors, including population growth, increasing car dependency, and a significant imbalance where road demand outstrips road supply. Beyond the inconvenience to commuters, traffic congestion carries substantial economic and environmental costs. These include freight delays, contributing to inflationary pressures, and various environmental impacts. Experts note that congestion affects productivity and imposes costs on public transport operators, commuters, and private vehicle users, hindering economic growth and job creation.

City's Strategies to Alleviate Congestion

In response to the escalating traffic challenges, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government are implementing a multi-faceted approach to improve urban mobility. Key initiatives include:

• Expansion of the MyCiTi bus service: Phase 2A aims to connect areas like Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with Wynberg and Claremont, involving dedicated bus lanes and new stations.
• Road infrastructure enhancements: Investments of R444 million are being made in road projects across various areas, alongside R397 million for road rehabilitation and R115 million for upgrading traffic signals.
• Promotion of non-motorised transport: The city is investing R385 million in developing walkways and cycling lanes and plans to introduce a bike-sharing program.
• Encouraging carpooling and flexible work hours: A corporate carpooling pilot has shown promising results, and advocacy for flexible working hours aims to stagger peak traffic times.
• Innovative infrastructure solutions: Exploration of reversible lanes and elevated intersections to optimize traffic flow.

The Western Cape Mobility Department also launched a 'Mobility Month' initiative to address congestion, emphasizing the need for expanding and improving public transport to become the preferred commuting choice. A Draft Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategy, open for public comment, aims to reduce single-occupant private car use and promote public transport, walking, and cycling.