Cape Town mayor pushes for urgent reforms as SONA approaches.
Image: Henk Kruger
With President Cyril Ramaphosa set to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, February 6, in Cape Town, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has urged the Government of National Unity (GNU) to implement critical reforms in three key areas: port efficiency, policing powers, and passenger rail management.
Hill-Lewis has called for greater private sector involvement in Cape Town’s port operations, the devolution of policing powers to municipal officers, and a clear deadline for transferring control of passenger rail services to the City.
Cape Town’s port, ranked as the least efficient in the world, needs urgent intervention, according to Hill-Lewis.
He stressed that private sector involvement could significantly improve operations and boost exports, benefitting local industries and creating jobs.
“We can generate huge economic benefits in our region by fixing Cape Town’s port,” said Hill-Lewis.
“The GNU has a golden chance to drive job-creating reforms this year, and we’ll be closely watching President Ramaphosa’s SONA for news on these fronts.”
He expressed disappointment that Cape Town’s port was not included in Transnet’s upcoming private investment projects and urged the government to set a firm deadline for private sector participation.
With gang violence, drug trafficking, and extortion plaguing Cape Town, Hill-Lewis has called for the devolution of criminal investigative powers to municipal officers.
He believes empowering these officers to build prosecution-ready case dockets will improve conviction rates and help dismantle criminal networks.
“This immediate boost for the State’s criminal investigation capacity can be achieved by the Police Minister issuing regulations under the SAPS Act,” he said.
“We are also calling for the upcoming SAPS Act amendments to include a change to section 64E(c), empowering municipal officers to investigate crime.
"We can take far more guns and drugs off the streets – and gain convictions – if we are able to offer more help to SAPS investigations and prosecutors.”
The City of Cape Town has completed a Rail Feasibility Study and aims to finalise business plans by mid-2025 to take over passenger rail operations.
Hill-Lewis emphasised the urgency of this devolution, noting that a fully functioning train service would save lower-income households an estimated R932 million annually on public transport.
“This year, Cape Town will be ready to take over the running of passenger rail, with complete business plans in place,” he said.
“We await the President’s update on the status of the long-delayed National Devolution Strategy. Taking charge of Metrorail is especially urgent for lower-income households, who rely on an affordable and efficient transport system.”
The City’s vision includes scaling up passenger numbers, introducing new train sets and routes, and upgrading stations with affordable housing developments over the next two decades.
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