Cape Town Inner City for Pedestrians During World Cup

Motorists will be barred from the city centre and Green Point on match days during the 2010 World Cup

Transport in Cape Town’s inner city during 2010 will largely be public transport and pedestrians. The ban on vehicles, revealed by an adviser to the province, has immediately sparked concerns that business in the city will grind to a halt.

The no-go zone is meant to ensure stricter security at matches and to allow free movement of spectators. Motorists may be forced to use public transport.

Former provincial 2010 project director Denis Lillie, an adviser to the provincial government, said only event-related vehicles would be allowed access to the city and near Green Point Stadium on match days to prevent traffic chaos.

The city will host at least nine world cup matches, including a semi-final, between June 11 and July 11, 2010. (read more on the 2010 match fixtures)

Lillie said only Fifa vehicles and cars with pre-registration stickers would automatically be allowed into the closed area.

Public transport such as buses and minibus taxis would be allowed access in order to ferry people to the stadium and back.

Those using their vehicles for work would be required to apply for a special pass from organisers or use park-and-ride facilities and be shuttled to the city.

At least 500 new buses were being acquired in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Non-approved vehicles would be allowed to go only as far as the Castle from the N2 and the Civic Centre from the N1.

Key roads leading to Cape Town station, the Convention Centre and the Green Point 2010 stadium would be car-free and only approved vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and rickshaw operators would be allowed.

Other exclusion areas include Darling, Strand, Adderley, Wale and Long streets. Portswood Road, Green Point Common, Beach Road and roads leading to the V&A Waterfront would also be no-go zones.

City officials say they will focus their energies on organising park-and-ride facilities at public transport interchanges, such as railway stations and bus and taxi ranks.

"People who live in the city will obviously be given stickers, but those who stay outside will unfortunately be turned back," he said.

Organisers were in negotiations with chambers of commerce and the Department of Trade and Industry to work out staggered business hours on match days.

It had been suggested that businesses should start work and close earlier than usual.

Molo says: “For all the latest information on 2010, subscribe to our free monthly Editor’s Picks Newsletter."

Read more about Cape Town Fan Parks for the 2010 World Cup.