The City of Cape Town has been given seven days to outline how it plans to tackle worsening traffic congestion, illegal parking and the growing impact of tourism in Bo-Kaap.

In a letter addressed to the City, seen by People’s Post, the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association (BKCRA) said residents have reached breaking point, accusing the City of failing to address long-standing concerns despite repeated complaints and engagements.

The association said the continued promotion of Bo-Kaap as a major tourist destination, without adequate management or enforcement, has left residents faced with blocked driveways, illegal parking by tour operators, traffic congestion, noise and large groups of tourists obstructing roads and pavements.

Traffic woes

According to Ebrahim Christian, the vice-chair of the BKCRA, tour buses and tourist vehicles regularly park in contravention of traffic regulations.

“They are often preventing residents from accessing or parking outside their homes. The tourists pull up and park wherever they want.

“Residents living in Wale Street must wait ages to park because they park in front of your house. There’s no respect for residents.”

Christian has called on the City to deploy dedicated traffic services officials in the area, enforce traffic and parking laws against tour operators, convene an urgent meeting with residents and tourism stakeholders, and develop a comprehensive tourism management plan that balances tourism with residents’ constitutional rights.

“We have had meetings with stakeholders in the tourism sector, but it has been all talk and no action. The City now needs to come up with a clear plan because residents cannot continue living like this,” said Christian.

Christian, who has lived in Bo-Kaap for 59 years, said tourism in the historic neighbourhood has become increasingly unmanageable, with tour groups arriving as early as 07:00 every morning.

He claimed tour operators routinely ignore traffic regulations.

“Tour operators don’t care. Even the stoep of the mosque is being used as a viewing point by tourists. There has to be respect for the people who live here,” Christian said.

Christian said the BKCRA has already presented the City with a proposed tourism management framework aimed at addressing the growing pressures on the community.

City response

Rob Quintas, Mayco member for urban mobility, said the City is “unaware of any letter”.

Quintas said a stop-and-drop along Buitengracht CBD bound has been implemented “apart from the residential parking restriction arrangements”

Other measures implemented include:
•A bus holding area along Buitengracht (prior to the no-entry into Wale Street), the holding area at the back of the Civic to accommodate the smaller mini-buses.
•Prohibition signage to all the main approaches at Wale Street and Buitengracht.
•The marking of existing legislatory restriction on approaches to all intersections

“Parking restriction on one side of Wale/ Yusuf Street (i.e. between Pentz and Van der Meulen Street on the southern side).

“The City’s proposal was to implement a part-time restriction i.e. that would apply to daytime hours only as community representatives have cited nighttime safety concerns should a 24/7 restriction apply).

“We were, however, asked to put this on hold until a formal agreement could be reached between the residents, not just among their representatives.”

He added that the residential on-street parking restriction, which is the rearrangement of parking and reorientation of loading bays in front of the businesses and restaurants, is currently pending a further public consultation / engagement.

Kevin Jacobs, spokesperson for the City’s traffic services, said traffic personnel “maintain a daily dedicated deployment” within the area.

“Officers continue to monitor and address traffic-related challenges through regular enforcement operations, and attend to violations, illegal parking and traffic transgressions.”

Jacobs urged residents to report traffic and parking complaints by calling 021 480 7700.

He said residents can also log by-law and traffic related complaints by using the Safety and Security feature on the City App.”

ALSO READ: Bo-Kaap residents call for traffic solutions as tour buses congest area