Commuters across Cape Town face the prospect of significant transport cost increases from 1 July 2026, as the City of Cape Town proposes a steep adjustment to MyCiTi bus fares. The planned increases, which remain subject to the approval of the City’s draft budget on 29 June 2026, include a 50% rise for monthly passes, set to jump from R1,000 to R1,500.
Financial Pressures On The City And Passengers
The proposed adjustment sees fares for the 0–20km distance band increasing by between 38% and 45%, while longer-distance travel will see hikes of 32% to 37%. Rob Quintas, the Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, stated that the City has reached a limit in its ability to subsidise travel costs at the expense of its own budget.
We have tried our utmost best to protect our MyCiTi commuters for as long as possible against the sky-high diesel prices and we are still trying. Unfortunately, we cannot do so for much longer.
Speaking on the necessity of the move, Quintas added during a recent meeting that the local government has been absorbing R9.1 million per month in fuel costs since March 2026. He noted that the adjustment is essential to keep the service sustainable and avoid the risk of cutting routes or narrowing down the scope of existing services.
Community Response To The Impending Cost Increase
The proposed hike has met with immediate resistance from public transport users, who argue that the cost of living—including rising food and electricity prices—is already placing extreme strain on households. A petition has been launched by groups representing daily commuters, requesting that the City re-evaluate the scale of the increases before finalising the budget.
The MyCiTi network remains a crucial lifeline for working-class residents, particularly those commuting between the Cape Flats and the Cape Town CBD. With national government funding cuts looming and the continued volatility of global fuel prices exacerbated by Middle Eastern regional conflict, local authorities are facing a complex challenge in balancing fiscal responsibility with the necessity of affordable public transport.
The City Council is expected to vote on the final draft budget on 29 June 2026, which will determine whether the new fare structure takes effect the following day.