Last week, the City of Cape Town closed 15 pedestrian and cycle lanes in Mitchells Plain due to their use for criminal activities, aiming to curb rising crime and gangsterism.
According to TopAuto, a total of 72 problematic lanes have been shut down so far, with an additional 265 closures planned.
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Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews has revealed that closing each lane costs approximately R33 000, while Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has allocated R600 000 from the Mayoral Fund for this initiative, effective from 1 July 2024.
These dimly lit and secluded lanes have become havens for criminals and gangsters, also serving as easy escape routes from law enforcement.
Due to increasing requests from neighbourhoods like Mitchells Plain, Andrews initiated the lane closure process in 2013.
This process, described as ‘time-consuming’ and ‘statutory’, requires that requests be submitted to the local sub-council for consideration.
If approved, a public participation process begins, allowing residents to comment on the proposed closure.
Input from the Urban Mobility Directorate and the Safety and Security Directorate is also required to assess the lane’s importance for pedestrian movement and emergency access.
Once the process is complete, the sub-council considers public feedback and departmental input before making a recommendation to the council.
Closure must be supported by affected property owners and the majority of local residents.
Property owners adjacent to the lanes must be willing to lease them from the City for gardening purposes but cannot build any structures on the former alleys.
Andrews has called on local sub-councils to consider funding these projects from their allocations and including them in their financial planning.
‘Given the urgency of the safety concerns, we are streamlining and expediting the process by tackling multiple closures simultaneously. However, funding remains a challenge, and closures can only proceed if there is available money,’ said Andrews.
‘Local sub-councils should also consider financing these projects from their allocations,’ he added.
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Picture: City of Cape Town website
