The National Government has announced a national lockdown to protect our communities against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, and to limit its spreading. The lockdown will be in effect as from 23:59 this evening, Thursday, 26 March 2020, for 21 days until midnight on 16 April 2020.
The restriction of movement has a direct impact on public transport services – the number of trips and operating times will be significantly reduced.
The City is doing all it can to comply, and to assist the National Government in implementing these measures.
A reduced MyCiTi bus service will continue to operate throughout the lockdown period. The City will continue with its rigorous cleaning regime and safety protocols. In order to align to National Regulations and requirements to maintain social distancing, buses will accommodate up to 50% of their passenger capacity.
The Transport Management Centre will remain operational to respond to any incidents on the city’s road network. The maintenance and operations of the city’s traffic signal network will continue. Teams responsible for the maintenance and repair of the major arterial roads will remain operational.
Please note that customer requests relating to the road network, including pothole repairs, will only be responded to if urgent and essential.
Commuters must please take note of the following:
The MyCiTi service
- The service will continue operating to transport health workers, other workers for essential businesses and services, and those who need to procure essentials – food, medicine, and social grants.
- The number of trips will be reduced, and only the express stations will be open during the lockdown: Atlantis, Melkbos, Sandown, Porterfield, Table View, Racecourse, Woodbridge, Woodstock, Civic Centre, V&A Waterfront, Omuramba, and Century City, Wood, Gardens and Adderley
- Passengers can board and alight at all bus stops by waving the driver down
- Normal weekday peak and off peak fares will apply to the reduced service
- The MyCiTi buses will operate according to the Sunday schedule, once the lockdown is in effect
The buses will be allowed to carry only half of its passenger capacity. Buses and stations will be cleaned regularly, and in accordance with the requirements relating to COVID-19. MyCiTi personnel and commuters must please adhere to the health safety measures, in particular, as it relates to social distancing and personal hygiene.
The City will monitor the use of the service during the lockdown, and may review or amend the operations if needed.
Commuters can visit the MyCiTi website on www.myciti.org.za for regular updates; use the MyCiTi app, or follow us on Twitter @MyCiTiBus; or phone the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63 – the TIC is available 24/7.
Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS)
- GABS will provide transport services during the lockdown. The Provincial Government and GABS will provide more information about the services in due course.
Dial-a-Ride service
- The City’s DAR will keep on operating, but only to transport users to hospitals or clinics for general health related consultations, and to procure medicine and collect grants. Those who are providing essential services will be transported to work.
- Bookings must be done in advance, as is currently the case.
Any user who suspects that he or she may have contracted COVID-19 must call the hotline for assistance and must be transported by an ambulance to get tested, or for medical treatment.
Minibus-taxis
- Minibus-taxis may only operate between 05:00 and 09:00; and again from 16:00 to 20:00.
- Minibus-taxis will be allowed to transport people who provide essential services, and other passengers to buy food and medicine, and collect their grants.
- The vehicles may only carry half of its passenger capacity, and must be sanitised inside and out, as often as possible.
The City will increase safety and security, and cleaning services at the busiest public transport interchanges across the city during the lockdown. No operator will be allowed to transport commuters for any other reason.
E-hailing and metred-taxis
- Taxis who are operating via e-hailing, and metred-taxis may only operate between 05:00 and 09:00; and again from 16:00 to 20:00.
- Taxis will be allowed to transport people who provide essential services, and passengers to buy food and medicine, and collect their grants.
- At most, the vehicles may only carry half of its passenger capacity, and must be sanitised inside and out as often as possible.
No operator will be allowed to transport commuters for any other reason.
- All long-distance bus services will be suspended during the national lockdown; this is in alignment with the National Government’s prohibitions on movement.
Commuters must please take note that nobody will be allowed to travel between provinces once the lockdown is in effect – be it by bus, minibus-taxi, or in a private vehicle.
- Furthermore, Metrorail will suspend the passenger rail service and as such, no trains will be operating during the lockdown.
I request all residents to please comply with the lockdown. Restrict commuting to urgent trips only. Do not leave your house unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. The less contact we have with one another during this time, the better.
These measures are drastic, and will have a huge impact on our lives. However, we must do all we can to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Working together, we will be safer.
Stay home as much as possible. Implement social distancing. Don’t shake hands. Don’t hug or kiss. Wash hands often with soap and water. Don’t touch your face.
Be safe.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town