On 29 May 2020, MyCiTi will reach a significant milestone – 10 years of service to the people of Cape Town, offering a new standard of quality, reliable and affordable public transport. 

MyCiTi is Cape Town’s version of bus rapid transit (BRT), with dedicated bus lanes on busy routes, 44 stations and a network of 22 routes with distinctive blue and red bus stops. Total investment in the system has topped R10 billion.

Introduced in time for the FIFA World Cup to transport thousands of fans from Cape Town International Airport to the city centre and to the Cape Town Stadium, MyCiTi has grown to become a feature of everyday life. More than 20 million passenger journeys have been undertaken, as the service has expanded to cover the entire Atlantic seaboard, from Atlantis in the north to Hout Bay in the south, including the central city and surrounding suburbs. Planning is currently underway for a new phase of the MyCiTi, serving communities along a public transport corridor linking Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain with Wynberg and Claremont.

As the MyCiTi network has grown, technological advances have seen the introduction of the cashless myconnect card system, a full-service website and app platform with real-time bus tracking for passenger convenience.

MyCiTi has also played a catalytic role in the transformation of the minibus taxi industry, with former owners becoming shareholders and active participants in several vehicle operating companies that deliver services on behalf of the City of Cape Town. In the process, there has also been training and formal job opportunities created for drivers, and depot and station staff on the system.

Regular passenger surveys reveal consistently high approval ratings for the service, which meets national standards for universal access for young and old and those with disabilities. The MyCiTi system has also played a catalytic role in urban improvement and the development of a non-motorised transport network, with upgraded pedestrian walkways and cycle paths, as well as welcome bicycles on buses.

MyCiTi celebrates 10 years of service amid a challenging time for the public transport sector as South Africa deals with the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to ensure that staff and protected passengers can travel in the safest possible manner. MyCiTi is implementing social distancing and sanitisation measures, and has undertaken public awareness campaigns to help stop the spread of the virus.

An effective quality public transport system is a key factor in ensuring that Cape Town is a resilient city, able to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and respond to challenges. With 10 years of successful service, MyCiTi looks forward to many more years of connecting people to economic, social and educational opportunities and the many great features of Cape Town life.