The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says construction work on two new MyCiTi depots, located on the corner of Spine Road and Mew Way between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, is now 65% complete.

City officials add that the bus transit project is on track to be concluded by May next year. Construction started in August 2022.

Construction was initially delayed by several weeks, owing to extortion attempts by the so-called construction mafia, but this lost time has now been made up by the contractor working extended hours and on weekends.

“I am happy to see good progress in the construction of the new MyCiTi depots, which will be at the heart of operations for this big extension of the MyCiTi bus system,” says mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

“The city is working at pace to expand the MyCiTi bus service to the metro south-east, specifically to Philippi, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.

“Once complete, hundreds of thousands of commuters will have access to safe, reliable, direct public transport along one of the busiest transport routes in the city.

“This project is part of the city’s infrastructure budget directly benefiting lower-income households in 2023/24.”

The 15 ha city-owned depot site is located near planned new MyCiTi routes, aimed at saving costs and accommodating more bus trips very early in the morning.

“The depots will house 290 buses initially, and many more as MyCiTi expands across the city,” notes CoCT Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas.

“The facilities will serve as a base for the MyCiTi service, including administrative offices, boardrooms, training space, facilities for staff and drivers, and security-controlled access on both roads.”

The depot project is cofunded by a Dutch government grant.

Work already wrapped up on the project includes the installation of foundation and underground bulk civil engineering services, including electricity, water, plumbing and sewerage services for both depots, as well as external building work, roof sheeting and internal finishes for the east depot.

Work currently under way includes paving the staging area for the east depot, installing a permanent water connection to both depots, and finishing external building work for the west depot.

To help combat extortion impacting on city construction and service delivery initiatives, Hill-Lewis last year launched an anti- extortion campaign under the slogan Enough! Genoeg! Kwanele!

The city has set up a 24-hour toll-free hotline, with cash rewards on offer for tip-offs leading to arrests and prosecution.