Editing Cape Town (section)

== Infrastructure and services ==
Most goods are handled through the Port of Cape Town or [[Cape Town International Airport]]. Most major shipbuilding companies have offices in Cape Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African Boatbuilders Business Council |url=http://www.southafricanboatbuilders.co.za |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106214500/http://www.southafricanboatbuilders.co.za/ |archive-date=6 January 2017 |access-date=24 February 2014 |publisher=Southafricanboatbuilders.co.za}}</ref> The province is also a centre of energy development for the country, with the existing [[Koeberg nuclear power station]] providing energy for the Western Cape's needs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Koeberg Power Station |url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/KoebergNuclearPowerStation/Pages/Koeberg_Power_Station.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613123845/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/KoebergNuclearPowerStation/Pages/Koeberg_Power_Station.aspx |archive-date=13 June 2020 |access-date=17 June 2020 |website=eskom.co.za}}</ref>

Greater Cape Town has four major commercial nodes, with the city's Central Business District (CBD) containing the majority of its office space.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} [[Century City (Cape Town)|Century City]], the [[Bellville, Western Cape|Bellville]]/Tygervalley strip, and [[Claremont, Cape Town|Claremont]] commercial nodes are well-established and contain many offices and corporate [[headquarters]].

=== Health ===
The city contains many well-equipped clinics and hospitals.

{{see also|List of hospitals in South Africa#Cape Metropole}}
[[File:Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape. 05.JPG|thumb|[[Groote Schuur Hospital]]]]
* The [[Alexandra Hospital (Cape Town)|Alexandra Hospital]] is a specialist mental health care hospital in Cape Town, it provides care for complex mental health issues and intellectual disability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexandra Hospital |url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/facility/alexandra-hospital |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105085248/https://www.westerncape.gov.za/facility/alexandra-hospital |archive-date=5 January 2017 |access-date=4 January 2016 |publisher=Western Cape Government}}</ref>
* [[Groote Schuur Hospital]] is a large, government-funded, teaching hospital situated on the slopes of Devil's Peak. It was founded in 1938 and is famous for being the institution where the first human-to-human heart transplant took place. Groote Schuur is the chief academic hospital of the University of Cape Town's medical school, providing tertiary care and instruction in all the major branches of medicine. The hospital underwent major extension in 1984 when two new wings were added.
* The Hottentots Holland Hospital, also known as Helderberg Hospital, is a district hospital for the Helderberg basin located in Somerset West, and also serves surrounding areas in the Overberg district.

Numerous of South Africa's major private medical services groups operate [[Private hospital|hospitals]] in the city, including those below.

* [[Mediclinic Group]]: 7 facilities (Cape Town, Milnerton, Louis Leipoldt, Constantiaberg, Cape Gate, Durbanville, and Vergelegen) <ref name= "Hospitals & Day Clinics">{{cite web|url= https://www.mediclinic.co.za/en/corporate/hospitals.html |title= Hospitals & Day Clinics |author= |publisher= Mediclinic Group |date= |access-date= 26 April 2025 }}</ref>
* [[Netcare]]: 4 facilities (Christiaan Barnard, UCT Private Academic, Blaawberg, and N1 City)<ref name= "Netcare Smart Search">{{cite web|url= https://www.netcare.co.za/search?path=hospitals_facilities |title= Netcare Smart Search |author= |publisher= Netcare |date= |access-date= 26 April 2025 }}</ref>
* [[Melomed]]: 5 facilities (Gatesville, Bellville, Tokai, Mitchells Plain, and Claremont)<ref name= "Melomed">{{cite web|url= https://www.melomed.co.za/ |title= Melomed |author= |publisher= Melomed |date= |access-date= 26 April 2025 }}</ref>

=== Education ===
[[File:UCT Upper Campus landscape view.jpg|thumb|left|[[University of Cape Town]] with the [[Devil's Peak (Cape Town)|Devil's Peak]]]]
[[Image:CPUT Cape Town Campus.jpg|thumb|left|The Cape Town Campus of the [[Cape Peninsula University of Technology]], with [[Table Mountain]] in the background]]

Public primary and secondary schools in Cape Town are run by the [[Western Cape Education Department]]. This provincial department is divided into seven districts; four of these are "Metropole" districts – Metropole Central, North, South, and East – which cover various areas of the metropolis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) |url=http://wced.wcape.gov.za/operations/emdc_links.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409162520/http://wced.wcape.gov.za/operations/emdc_links.html |archive-date=9 April 2008 |access-date=10 April 2008 |publisher=Western Cape Education Department}}</ref> There are also many private schools, both religious and secular. Cape Town has a well-developed higher system of [[public university|public universities]].

Cape Town is served by three public universities: the [[University of Cape Town]] (UCT), the [[University of the Western Cape]] (UWC) and the [[Cape Peninsula University of Technology]] (CPUT). [[Stellenbosch University]], while not based in the metropolitan area itself, has its main campus and administrative section 50{{spaces}}kilometres from the City Bowl and has additional campuses, such as the Tygerberg Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Bellville Business Park, north-west of the city in the town of [[Bellville, South Africa|Bellville]].

Both the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University are leading universities in South Africa. This is due in large part to substantial financial contributions made to these institutions by both the public and private sector. UCT is an English-language tuition institution. It has over 21,000 students and has an MBA programme that was ranked 51st by the Financial Times in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competitiveness factors |url=http://www.capetown.gov.za/econstats/pdf/compete.zip |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927091123/http://www.capetown.gov.za/econstats/pdf/compete.zip |archive-date=27 September 2007 |publisher=City of Cape Town}}</ref>

It is also the top-ranked university in Africa, being the only African university to make the world's Top 200 university list at number 146.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2009 |title=University of cape town |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university/98/university-of-cape-town |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220022353/http://www.topuniversities.com/university/98/university-of-cape-town |archive-date=20 February 2010 |access-date=2 July 2010 |publisher=Top Universities}}</ref> Since the [[African National Congress]] has become the country's ruling party, some restructuring of Western Cape universities has taken place and as such, traditionally non-white universities have seen increased financing, which has evidently benefitted UWC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town Society |url=http://www.capetown.at/heritage/society/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928033036/http://www.capetown.at/heritage/society/index.htm |archive-date=28 September 2009 |access-date=14 June 2006 |publisher=CapeConnected}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Education Cosas critical of education funding |url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/01/20/PAGE7.HTM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224155137/http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/01/20/PAGE7.HTM |archive-date=24 December 2007 |publisher=Dispatch Online}}</ref>

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology was formed on 1 January 2005, when two separate institutions – [[Cape Technikon]] and [[Peninsula Technikon]] – were merged. The new university offers education primarily in English, although one may take courses in any of South Africa's official languages. The institution generally awards the [[National Diploma (South Africa)|National Diploma]].

Students from the universities and high schools are involved in the South African [[SEDS]], Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. This is the South African SEDS, and there are many SEDS branches in other countries, preparing enthusiastic students and young professionals for the growing Space industry.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

As well as the universities, there are also several [[college]]s in and around Cape Town. Including the [[College of Cape Town]], False Bay College and Northlink College. Many students use NSFAS funding to help pay for tertiary education at these TVET colleges.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2022 |title=NSFAS Funding |url=https://allbursaries.co.za/government-bursaries-south-africa/nsfas-everything-need-know |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122152416/https://allbursaries.co.za/government-bursaries-south-africa/nsfas-everything-need-know/ |archive-date=22 November 2021 |access-date=24 June 2022 |publisher=AllBursaries}}</ref> Cape Town has also become a popular [[Study abroad in the United States|study abroad]] destination for many international college students. Many [[study abroad organization|study abroad providers]] offer semester, summer, short-term, and internship programs in partnership with Cape Town universities as a chance for international students to gain intercultural understanding.

=== Water supply ===
{{Main|Western Cape Water Supply System}}
The '''Western Cape Water Supply System''' (WCWSS) is a complex water supply system in the [[Western Cape]] region of [[South Africa]], comprising an inter-linked system of six main dams, pipelines, tunnels and distribution networks, and a number of minor dams, some owned and operated by the [[Department of Water and Sanitation]] and some by the [[City of Cape Town]].<ref name="Kasrils">[http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2003/03041609461001.htm Address by Mr Ronnie Kasrils, MP, minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, at the Berg Water Project signing ceremony on 15 April 2003, in Cape Town], accessed on 11 December 2009</ref>

==== Water crisis of 2017 to 2018 ====
{{Main|Cape Town water crisis}}
[[File:Water Crisis.jpg|thumb|upright|Water crisis warning in Cape Town in 2018]]
The Cape Town water crisis of 2017 to 2018 was a period of severe water shortage in the [[Western Cape]] region, most notably affecting the [[City of Cape Town]]. While dam water levels had been declining since 2015, the Cape Town water crisis peaked during mid-2017 to mid-2018 when water levels hovered between 15 and 30 percent of total dam capacity.

In late 2017, there were first mentions of plans for "Day Zero", a shorthand reference for the day when the water level of the major dams supplying the city could fall below 13.5 percent.<ref name="USA today" /><ref name="Globe and Mail" /><ref name="Poplak 2018" /> "Day Zero" would mark the start of Level 7 water restrictions, when municipal water supplies would be largely switched off and it was envisioned that residents could have to queue for their daily ration of water. If this had occurred, it would have made the City of Cape Town the first major city in the world to run out of water.<ref name="Booysen et al 2019" /><ref name="Booysen et al 2019a" />

The city of Cape Town implemented significant water restrictions in a bid to curb water usage, and succeeded in reducing its daily water usage by more than half to around 500 million litres (130,000,000 US gal) per day in March 2018.<ref name="Narrandes 2018" /> The fall in water usage led the city to postpone its estimate for "Day Zero", and strong rains starting in June 2018 led to dam levels recovering.<ref name="Myburgh 2018" />

In September 2018, with dam levels close to 70 percent, the city began easing water restrictions, indicating that the worst of the water crisis was over.<ref name="reduce-sep2018" /> Good rains in 2020 effectively broke the drought and resulting water shortage when dam levels reached 95 percent.<ref name="After drought" /> Concerns have been raised, however, that unsustainble demand and limited water supply could result in future drought events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Day Zero still looms over Cape Town |url=https://climate.mit.edu/posts/day-zero-still-looms-over-cape-town |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=MIT Climate Portal |language=en}}</ref>

=== Transport ===
==== Air ====
[[File:2013.01.03 Ciudad del Cabo, ZA (28).JPG|thumb|left|[[Cape Town International Airport]]]]
[[Cape Town International Airport]] serves both domestic and international flights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flights to Cape Town |url=https://flytoct.com |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=capetownetc.com}}</ref> It is the second-largest airport in South Africa and serves as a major gateway for travellers to the Cape region. Cape Town has regularly scheduled services to [[Southern Africa]], [[East Africa]], [[Mauritius]], [[Middle East]], [[Far East]], [[Europe]], [[Brazil]] and the [[United States]] as well as eleven domestic destinations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town International Airport |url=http://www.southafrica.info/plan_trip/travel_tips/arriving/ctairport.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625211424/http://www.southafrica.info/plan_trip/travel_tips/arriving/ctairport.htm |archive-date=25 June 2006 |publisher=SouthAfrica.info}}</ref>

As tourism numbers increased in the lead-up to the tournament of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], Cape Town International Airport opened a brand new central terminal building that was developed to handle an expected increase in air traffic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Bobby |date=17 May 1998 |title=R150-million upgrade kicks off one of the biggest developments in Cape Town's history |url=http://www.suntimes.co.za/1998/05/17/news/cape/nct01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051204030148/http://www.suntimes.co.za/1998/05/17/news/cape/nct01.htm |archive-date=4 December 2005 |access-date=13 June 2006 |work=Sunday Times |location=UK}}</ref>

Other renovations include several large new parking garages, a revamped domestic departure terminal, a new Bus Rapid Transit system station and a new double-decker road system. The airport's cargo facilities are also being expanded and several large empty plots are being developed into [[office|office space]] and hotels.

Cape Town is one of five internationally recognised [[Antarctic gateway cities]] with transportation connections. Since 2021, commercial flights have operated from Cape Town to [[Wolfs Fang Runway|Wolf's Fang Runway]], Antarctica.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 2021 |title=White Desert introduces direct flights from Cape Town to Antarctica |url=https://www.capetownetc.com/news/white-desert-introduces-direct-flights-from-cape-town-to-antarctica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221202948/https://www.capetownetc.com/news/white-desert-introduces-direct-flights-from-cape-town-to-antarctica/ |archive-date=21 February 2022 |access-date=23 February 2022 |website=capetownetc.com}}</ref> The Cape Town International Airport was among the winners of the World Travel Awards for being Africa's leading airport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town International Airport |url=http://www.ctru.co.za/C3/CapeTownInternationalAirportamongtheWorld.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922094206/http://www.ctru.co.za/C3/CapeTownInternationalAirportamongtheWorld.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2014 |publisher=Cape Town Routes Unlimited}}</ref> Cape Town International Airport is located 18{{spaces}}km from the [[Central Business District]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance Calculator |url=http://www.distancecalculator.co.za/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724001841/http://www.distancecalculator.co.za/ |archive-date=24 July 2019 |access-date=24 July 2019 |website=distancecalculator.co.za}}</ref>

==== Sea ====
[[File:2011-02-06 14-34-03 South Africa - Foreshore.jpg|thumb|The [[Port of Cape Town]] is a major transport node in southern Africa. In addition to moving freight it also serves as a major repair site for ships and oil rigs.]]
Cape Town has a long tradition as a port city, and its role as a re-provisioning stop at the midpoint of the [[Cape Route]] gained it the nicknames "Tavern of the Seas" and "Tavern of the Indian Ocean".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Kerry |title=Seascapes |date=31 December 2017 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-6424-8 |pages=137–152 |chapter=8. "Tavern of the Seas"? The Cape of Good Hope as an Oceanic Crossroads during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries |doi=10.1515/9780824864248-011}}</ref> The [[Port of Cape Town]], the city's main port, is in Table Bay directly to the north of the CBD.

The port is a hub for ships in the southern Atlantic: it is located along one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world, and acts as a stopover point for goods en route to or from Latin America and Asia. It is also an entry point into the South African market.<ref name="EU Handbook 2020">{{Cite book |url=https://ec.europa.eu/chafea/agri/sites/default/files/south-africa-handbook-2020_en.pdf |title=The Food and Beverage Market Entry Handbook: South Africa |publisher=European Union |year=2020 |isbn=978-92-9478-535-0 |location=European Union |pages=178 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808145237/https://ec.europa.eu/chafea/agri/sites/default/files/south-africa-handbook-2020_en.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is the second-busiest container port in South Africa after [[Durban]]. In 2004, it handled 3,161 ships and 9.2{{spaces}}million tonnes of cargo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing SAPO |url=http://www.ports.co.za/port-operations.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801011548/http://ports.co.za/port-operations.php |archive-date=1 August 2011 |publisher=South African Port Operations}}</ref>

[[Simon's Town]] Harbour on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula is the main operational base of the [[South African Navy]].<!-- The SAN headquarters is in Pretoria, not Simon's Town. But Simon's Town is, as stated, a major operational base for the South African Navy -->

Until the 1970s the city was served by the [[Union Castle Line]] with service to the United Kingdom and St Helena.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The last boat to St Helena |url=https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/the-last-boat-to-st-helena |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727071810/https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/the-last-boat-to-st-helena |archive-date=27 July 2020 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=The Oldie}}</ref> The [[RMS St Helena (1989)|RMS ''St Helena'']] provided passenger and cargo service between Cape Town and [[St Helena]] until the opening of [[St Helena Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollins, Jonathan |date=19 February 2018 |title=What it was like to sail aboard the RMS St Helena's final voyage |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/rms-st-helena-royal-mail-ship-final-journey-cape-town-a8217436.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426204147/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/rms-st-helena-royal-mail-ship-final-journey-cape-town-a8217436.html |archive-date=26 April 2021 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

The cargo vessel M/V ''Helena'', under AW Shipping Management, takes a limited number of passengers,<ref name="Cargoships">{{Cite web |last=Trend |first=Nick |title=10 fascinating voyages on cargo ships |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/cabins-on-cargo-ships/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114022803/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/cabins-on-cargo-ships/ |archive-date=14 January 2020 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref> between Cape Town and St Helena and [[Ascension Island]] on its voyages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passengers |url=https://sthelenashipping.com/passengers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231144231/http://sthelenashipping.com/passengers/ |archive-date=31 December 2019 |access-date=6 January 2020 |website=St Helena Shipping |publisher=AW Shipping Management}} – see [http://www.sthelenashipping.com/passengers/routes-prices/ Routes and Prices] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228173202/http://www.sthelenashipping.com/passengers/routes-prices/ |date=28 December 2019 }} which confirms its destinations</ref> Multiple vessels also take passengers to and from [[Tristan da Cunha]], inaccessible by aircraft, to and from Cape Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town – Tristan da Cunha Shipping Schedule |url=https://www.tristandc.com/shipping.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611235109/https://www.tristandc.com/shipping.php |archive-date=11 June 2020 |access-date=6 January 2020 |publisher=Tristan da Cunha Government & Tristan da Cunha Association}}</ref> In addition, NSB Niederelbe Schiffahrtsgesellschaft takes passengers on its cargo service to the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]].<ref name=Cargoships/>

==== Rail ====
[[File:X'trapolis Mega on Kalk Bay bridge Dec 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Metrorail (Western Cape)|Metrorail]] train near [[Kalk Bay]] station.]]
The [[Shosholoza Meyl]] is the passenger rail operations of [[Spoornet]] and operates one long-distance passenger rail service from Cape Town as of 2024: a weekly service to and from [[Johannesburg]] via [[Kimberley, South Africa|Kimberley]]. These trains terminate at [[Cape Town railway station]] and make a stop at [[Bellville railway station|Bellville]]. Cape Town also terminates 2 luxury tourist train routes as of 2024 operated by the [[Ceres Rail Company]], traveling from the [[V&A Waterfront|Waterfront]] to [[Simon's Town]] and [[Grabouw]] respectively.

[[Metrorail (Western Cape)|Metrorail]] operates a [[commuter rail]] service in Cape Town and the surrounding area. The Metrorail network consists of 96 stations throughout the suburbs and outskirts of Cape Town.

==== Road ====
Cape Town is the origin of three [[National Roads in South Africa|national roads]]. The [[N1 (South Africa)|N1]] and [[N2 (South Africa)|N2]] begin in the foreshore area near the City Centre and the [[N7 (South Africa)|N7]], which runs North toward [[Namibia]]. The N1 runs East-North-East from Cape Town through the towns of [[Goodwood, Western Cape|Goodwood]], [[Parow, South Africa|Parow]], [[Bellville, Cape Town|Bellville]], [[Brackenfell, Cape Town|Brackenfell]] and [[Kraaifontein]] before continuing towards [[Paarl]]. It connects Cape Town to major cities further inland, namely [[Bloemfontein]], [[Johannesburg]], and [[Pretoria]] An older at-grade road, the [[R101 road (South Africa)|R101]], runs parallel to the N1 from Bellville.

The N2 runs East-South-East through [[Rondebosch]], [[Guguletu]], [[Khayelitsha]], [[Macassar, Western Cape|Macassar]] to [[Somerset West]]. It becomes a multiple-carriageway, at-grade road from the intersection with the [[R44 road (South Africa)|R44]] onward. The N2 continues east along the coast, linking Cape Town with Somerset West and the coastal cities of [[Mossel Bay]], [[George, South Africa|George]], [[Port Elizabeth]], [[East London, South Africa|East London]] and [[Durban]]. An older at-grade road, the [[R102 (South Africa)|R102]], runs parallel to the N1 initially, before veering south at Bellville, to join the N2 at Somerset West via the towns of [[Kuils River|Kuilsrivier]] and [[Eerste River, Western Cape|Eersterivier]]. The N7 originates from the N1 at Wingfield Interchange near Edgemead. It begins, initially as a highway, but becoming an at-grade road from the intersection with the M5 onward.
[[File:Cape Town N2.jpg|thumb|left|The [[N2 (South Africa)|N2]] as it enters the city centre.]]

There are also a number of [[Provincial route (South Africa)|regional routes]] linking Cape Town with surrounding areas. The [[R27 road (South Africa)|R27]] originates from the N1 near the Foreshore and runs north parallel to the N7, but nearer to the coast. It passes through the suburbs of [[Milnerton, Cape Town|Milnerton]], [[Table View, Cape Town|Table View]] and [[Bloubergstrand, Cape Town|Bloubergstrand]] and links the city to the West Coast, ending at the town of [[Velddrif]].

The [[R44 road (South Africa)|R44]] enters the east of the metro from the north, from [[Stellenbosch]]. It connects Stellenbosch to Somerset West, then crosses the N2 to [[Strand, Western Cape|Strand]] and [[Gordon's Bay]]. It exits the metro heading south hugging the coast, leading to the towns of [[Betty's Bay]] and [[Kleinmond]].

Of the three-digit routes, the [[R300 road (South Africa)|R300]] is an expressway linking the N1 at [[Brackenfell]] to the N2 near [[Mitchells Plain]] and the [[Cape Town International Airport]]. The [[R302 road (South Africa)|R302]] runs from the R102 in Bellville, heading north across the N1 through [[Durbanville]] leaving the metro to [[Malmesbury, Western Cape|Malmesbury]]. The [[R304 road (South Africa)|R304]] enters the northern limits of the metro from Stellenbosch, running NNW before veering west to cross the N7 at [[Philadelphia, Western Cape|Philadelphia]] to end at [[Atlantis, Western Cape|Atlantis]] at a junction with the [[R307 road (South Africa)|R307]]. This R307 starts north of [[Koeberg]] from the R27 and, after meeting the R304, continues north to [[Darling, Western Cape|Darling]]. The [[R310 road (South Africa)|R310]] originates from [[Muizenberg]] and runs along the coast, to the south of Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha, before veering north-east, crossing the N2 west of Macassar, and exiting the metro heading to Stellenbosch.

Cape Town, like most South African cities, uses [[Metropolitan Routes in Cape Town|Metropolitan]] or "M" routes for important intra-city routes, a layer below National (N) roads and Regional (R) routes. Each city's M roads are independently numbered. Most are at-grade roads. The [[M3 (Cape Town)|M3]] splits from the N2 and runs to the south along the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, connecting the City Bowl with [[Muizenberg]].

Except for a section between Rondebosch and Newlands that has at-grade intersections, this route is a highway. The [[M5 (Cape Town)|M5]] splits from the N1 further east than the M3, and links the Cape Flats to the CBD. It is a highway as far as the interchange with the M68 at Ottery, before continuing as an at-grade road. Cape Town has the worst traffic congestion in [[South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TomTom Traffic Index |url=http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/#/list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201021928/https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/#/list |archive-date=1 December 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=R750 million to fight traffic in SA's most congested city |url=http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/103039/r750-million-to-fight-traffic-in-sas-most-congested-city/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208104036/http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/103039/r750-million-to-fight-traffic-in-sas-most-congested-city/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>

==== Buses ====
[[Golden Arrow Bus Services]] operates scheduled bus services in the Cape Town metropolitan area. Several companies run long-distance bus services from Cape Town to the other cities in South Africa.

===== MyCiTi =====
{{main|MyCiTi}}
[[File:MyCiti BRT Adderley station (21812360016).jpg|thumb|[[MyCiTi]] station and bus]]
Cape Town has a public transport system in about 10% of the city, running north to south along the west coastline of the city, comprising Phase 1 of the IRT system. This is known as the MyCiTi service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyCiTi |url=https://myciti.org.za/en/home/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225063521/http://myciti.org.za/en/home/ |archive-date=25 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref>

MyCiTi Phase 1 includes services linking the Airport to the Cape Town inner city, as well as the following areas: [[Bloubergstrand|Blouberg]] / [[Table View]], [[Dunoon, Cape Town|Dunoon]], [[Atlantis, Western Cape|Atlantis]] and [[Melkbosstrand]], [[Milnerton, Cape Town|Milnerton]], Paarden Eiland, [[Century City, Cape Town|Century City]], [[Salt River, Cape Town|Salt River]] and [[Walmer Estate, Cape Town|Walmer Estate]], and all suburbs of the [[City Bowl]] and [[#Atlantic Seaboard|Atlantic Seaboard]] all the way to [[Llandudno, Cape Town|Llandudno]] and [[Hout Bay, Cape Town|Hout Bay]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The MyCiTi N2 Express service consists of four routes each linking the Cape Town inner city and [[Khayelitsha]] and [[Mitchells Plain]] on the [[Cape Flats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyCiTi {{!}} N2 Express services to restart on 19 February 2022 |url=https://www.myciti.org.za/en/routes-stops/n2-express/ |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=www.myciti.org.za |language=en-US}}</ref>

The service use high floor articulated and standard size buses in dedicated busways, low floor articulated and standard size buses on the N2 Express service, and smaller {{cvt|9|m|adj=on|abbr=off}} [[Optare]] buses in suburban and inner city areas. It offers [[Accessibility#Transportation|universal access]] through level boarding and numerous other measures, and requires cashless fare payment using the [[EMV]] compliant smart card system, called myconnect. Headway of services (i.e. the time between buses on the same route) range from three to twenty minutes in peak times to an hour in off-peak times.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

==== Taxis ====
[[File:Cape Town Taxicab in Campsbay.jpg|thumb|left|A fleet of privately owned taxis in [[Camps Bay]]]]
Cape Town has various kinds of taxis available, including those obtained through ride-hailing services such as [[Bolt (company)|Bolt]] and [[Uber]].

Taxis are either [[taxicab|metered taxis]] or [[minibus taxi]]s. Metered taxis can be found at transport hubs as well as other tourist establishments, while minibus taxis can be found at taxi ranks, and, commonly, travelling along main streets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public transport {{!}} Transport and Public Works |url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/tpw/public-transport |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=www.westerncape.gov.za}}</ref> Minibus taxis can be hailed from the road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The best ways to get around Cape Town: cycling, walking and safety |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-cape-town |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}}</ref>

Cape Town metered taxi cabs mostly operate in the city bowl, suburbs and Cape Town International Airport areas. Large companies that operate fleets of cabs can be reached by phone and are cheaper than the single operators that apply for hire from taxi ranks and [[Victoria and Alfred Waterfront]].

There are about 1,000 meter taxis in Cape Town. Their rates vary from R8 per kilometre to about R15 per kilometre. The larger taxi companies in Cape Town are Excite Taxis, Cabnet and Intercab and single operators are reachable by cellular phone. The seven seated Toyota Avanza are the most popular with larger Taxi companies. Meter cabs are mostly used by tourists and are safer to use than minibus taxis.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Minibus taxis are the standard form of transport for the majority of the population who cannot afford private vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transport |url=http://www.cape-town.org/directory.asp?McatId=8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128184051/http://www.cape-town.org/directory.asp?McatId=8 |archive-date=28 November 2011 |publisher=CapeTown.org}}</ref> Although essential, these taxis are often poorly maintained and are frequently not road-worthy. These taxis make frequent unscheduled stops to pick up passengers, which can cause accidents.<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Africa's minibus wars: uncontrollable law-defying minibuses oust buses and trains from transit |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1566/is_200209/ai_n7215423 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203204842/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1566/is_200209/ai_n7215423 |archive-date=3 February 2007 |publisher=LookSmart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transportation in Developing Countries: Greenhouse Gas Scenarios for South Africa |url=http://www.c2es.org/global-warming-in-depth/all_reports/transportation_in_south_africa/trans_sa_execsumm.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223234303/http://www.c2es.org/global-warming-in-depth/all_reports/transportation_in_south_africa/trans_sa_execsumm.cfm |archive-date=23 February 2012 |access-date=8 February 2016 |publisher=Center for Climate and Energy Solutions}}</ref> With the high demand for transport by the working class of South Africa, minibus taxis are often filled over their legal passenger allowance. Minibuses are generally owned and operated in fleets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taxing Alternatives: Poverty Alleviation and the South African Taxi/Minibus Industry |url=http://www.enterpriseafrica.org/repository/docLib/20060427_MC_GPI_EATaxi_060323.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625232203/http://www.enterpriseafrica.org/repository/docLib/20060427_MC_GPI_EATaxi_060323.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2008 |publisher=Enterprise Africa! Research Publications}}</ref>