GOOD Statement by Siyabulela Mamkeli ,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
06 March 2025
The GOOD Party calls on the City of Cape Town to reconsider its pricing structure for the MyCiTi transport system. The current distance-band based fare structure system disproportionately affects Black and Coloured communities. Under this fare system, commuters are charged based on the exact distance they travel. This disadvantages historically displaced communities now residing in far-flung areas such as Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha who must travel long distances daily to reach economic hubs like the CBD.
By contrast, a zonal fare structure, where fares are based on the number of zones travelled rather than exact distances, could offer a fairer alternative—especially if it includes fare caps or subsidized rates for long-distance commuters. This would help level the playing field and reduce the financial burden on historically disadvantaged communities.
According to the February 2025 Household Affordability Index report compiled by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) group, the average worker spends 57% of their salary on transport and electricity.
GOOD urges policymakers, transport authorities, and the City of Cape Town to reconsider the negative socio-economic impact of the distance-based fare system. We call for:
• A more equitable fare structure, such as a zonal system with price caps.
• Subsidized fares for long-distance commuters from historically displaced communities.
• A review of transport policies to address apartheid-era spatial injustices.
Public transport should not reinforce past injustices but rather serve as a tool for economic inclusion and social redress. As a City we have a duty to undo the historical inequalities brought about by apartheid-era laws such as the 1913 Natives Land Act and the Group Areas Act. Decent, affordable and reliable public transport has the power to change people’s lives.
Media enquiries: media@forgood.org.za