Cape Town residents could soon have access to a new, centrally located Home Affairs office, with the City preparing to seek Council approval to lease space at the Civic Centre for an appointment-only facility operated by the National Department of Home Affairs.
The proposal, expected to be tabled before Council in March 2026, as noted by the City, follows an approach from the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish a dedicated office within the Civic Centre on Hertzog Boulevard in the CBD.
The initiative forms part of broader cooperation between the City of Cape Town and national government aimed at improving access to essential civic services.
If approved, the Home Affairs office will be housed on the second floor of the Civic Centre, with the department entering into a formal lease agreement with the City.
Early occupation of the space is planned once the lease is concluded, allowing Home Affairs to begin internal construction and prepare the facility for operation.
City officials have positioned the proposal as a practical response to long-standing service pressures, particularly at existing Home Affairs offices in the city centre.
Once operational, the appointment-only model is expected to offer a more streamlined experience for residents needing access to key national government services.
The Civic Centre’s location, adjacent to the MyCiTi bus route, the Station Deck minibus-taxi facility and Cape Town station, has been highlighted as a key advantage in ensuring accessibility.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys, said the proposed office would strengthen service delivery while offering residents a dignified and well-connected environment.
‘Once established, this dedicated Home Affairs office will enhance service delivery by providing Cape Town residents with streamlined, appointment-based access to key national government services within a centrally located City facility,’ Uys stated.
‘We are eager to get Council’s nod of approval for this very important collaboration that will definitely go a long way in improving access to essential services.’
She added that the Civic Centre’s transport links and safety features make it an ideal location for residents conducting official business.
Behind the scenes, the City’s Property Transactions Department is finalising the lease agreement, a process framed as part of a wider strategy to optimise municipal assets.
Meanwhile,Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said the transaction reflects a governance approach focused on long-term community benefit.
‘This intended property transaction demonstrates good governance in action. By optimising our property assets, we ensure that City-owned land and buildings are leveraged in a way that delivers the greatest possible benefit to communities, supports economic activity, and unlocks long-term value for residents,’ Vos said.
National government has also welcomed the proposed development, positioning it as a step towards easing pressure on existing offices and modernising service delivery.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber described the Civic Centre facility as an alternative to the busy Barrack Street office and a milestone in the department’s wider reform agenda.
‘The establishment of a modern new Home Affairs office at the Cape Town Civic Centre, as an alternative to the busy office in Barrack Street, demonstrates our commitment to delivering for the people of Cape Town,’ Schreiber said.
He added that the move aligns with the Home Affairs @ home reforms, aimed at bringing services closer to where people live and ensuring residents can access critical documentation ‘in a safe, efficient and respectful environment’.
Further details will be shared once the proposal has been considered by Council.
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