Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has encouraged Capetonians to engage with the City’s Long-Term Plan for the next 25 years, with public participation open until 12 September. The plan includes sweeping reforms to services, infrastructure, and the regional economy to ensure a ‘future-fit city of opportunities for all’.
‘It is now 25 years since the formation of a unified City of Cape Town, and a good time to cement our plan and vision for the next 25 years. We want to ensure that Cape Town does not follow the path of decline that is sadly visible in other cities, and that our metro continues to be a thriving city of hope long into the future, a future-fit city of opportunities for all that is an even better place to live. This is a plan for a city where jobs and housing opportunities meet demand, and where poverty has declined as a growing economy lifts more people into work.
‘In the Cape Town of 2050, we’ll mostly use affordable public transport to get around, our streets will be much safer due to smart policing, we’ll source a healthy portion of our water and electricity from alternate sources for greater security, and our natural environment will be protected and restored for future generations.
‘Much of this groundwork is already being laid now, through the City’s South African-record R120bn ten-year infrastructure pipeline – 75% of which directly benefits lower-income households – as well as the ongoing investments for sustainable and reliable water, electricity, and waste management services.
‘By 2028, the City is also targeting far more control over critical areas of our regional economy, including taking over passenger rail and Eskom-supply areas, gaining more policing powers for our officers to make Cape Town safer, and ensuring well-run small harbours,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Cape Town’s Vision 2050 has two main goals in mind:
(i) to create a city of opportunities for all, and
(ii) to create a City that is future-fit for the challenges of the next 25 years.
The Long-Term plan captures various City initiatives in support of these goals.
Highlights include:
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Raised infrastructure investment and Ease-of-Doing-Business targets, aiming for a 120% increase to GDP by 2050
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Smart policing that is data and tech-driven for a safer Cape Town
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Reinstating passenger rail as the backbone of an expanded transport network under the City’s management
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Residents use public transport for 75% of all trips by 2050, and no Capetonian spends more than 10% of their disposable income on transport
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Improved use of digital technology and artificial intelligence for better governance and communication with residents
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Meeting 35% of electricity demand with alternative energy sources by 2030 and grid upgrades for a decentralised, energy-trading future
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Targeting 25% of Cape Town’s water from alternative non-surface water sources by 2040
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Increase new housing opportunities to 50 000 per year via land release, private sector-led development, upgrades to informal settlements, and support for micro-developers to build safe and compliant affordable rental housing
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Major sanitation investments including wastewater treatment works to protect inland and coastal ecosystems
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Diverting 70% of waste from landfill by 2050, with improved waste collection, landfill, recycling and waste minimisation
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Bio-diversity protections and upping annual tree-planting rates to plant 100 000 trees by 2050 to combat climate change in line with the City’s Urban Forest Policy
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Disaster risk capacity to deal with climate challenges, from fires to drought and floods
Key areas of intergovernmental collaboration
The Long-Term plan further highlights critical areas of collaboration with the provincial and national government, including:
• Enabling major infrastructure projects to meet growing demand for healthcare, education, roads, and more
• Devolving control of the passenger rail network to the City
• More policing powers for municipal powers to help SAPS fight crime
• Release of national mega-properties for affordable housing and mixed-use development
• Transfer of Eskom-supply areas to the City
• Reforms to control and management of small harbours
• Private sector-led reforms to the Port of Cape Town and development of an alternative inland port for greater efficiency
Comment on the City’s Long-Term Plan
Comment by 12 September 2025
Online: www.capetown.gov.za/HaveYourSay
Email: public.participation@capetown.gov.za
Phone: 0800 212 176
In person: Subcouncil office
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