Reddam Constantia's morning traffic chaos prompts urgent City assessment

Residents, commuters, businesses, and emergency services have all raised concerns over worsening traffic around Reddam House Constantia, with delays on key roads reaching up to 45 minutes during the morning peak.

Complaints began on the first day of school this year and continue to come in almost hourly, according to ward councillor Carolynne Franklin.

She said the issues are concentrated on Orpen Road, Steenberg Road, Main Road, Tokai Road, and residential side streets now being used as “rat runs,” as well as Ou Kaapse Weg and Westlake Drive linking to Boyes Drive.

“From the very first day of school, complaints started coming in, not just from parents, but from residents, taxi drivers, emergency services, and businesses in the area,” Ms Franklin said.

The congestion has worsened dramatically compared to last year.

“Last year, the journey from the M3 bridge on Tokai Road to Steenberg Village Circle – about 4.6 kilometres – took roughly 15 minutes. This year, it can take up to 45 minutes during the 7am to 8am peak,” she added, noting that some drivers are even going the wrong way along Tokai Road to avoid queues, raising safety concerns.

City staff have met with the school to discuss possible solutions.

Ms Franklin said the head of school acknowledged the concerns but claimed nothing on school grounds had changed.

However, parents and other road users have pointed out that several new classes were added in 2026, temporary prefabricated classrooms occupy school fields, and parking has been reduced due to renovations.

One parent, speaking anonymously, said: “Several classes were added this year, and most of the parking has been removed due to renovations on both the astro turf and small pool. There’s nowhere for parents to park while dropping off kids, and teachers are using the main parking areas. They could open the fields to allow better flow.”

The City has advised Reddam Constantia to commission a full Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) with potential solutions to be presented to officials.

Mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, said the school’s compliance with zoning approvals will determine what mitigation measures the City can require.

“If the assessment confirms that the school is contributing to congestion, our authority to require mitigation depends on the recommendations of the TIA or whether the school is operating within its zoning approvals and any applicable conditions of approval,” he explained.

“If the school is out of compliance, the City may pursue enforcement and require corrective measures. If the TIA identifies impacts tied to the school, we may require reasonable mitigation consistent with our code and prior approvals.”

Kevin Jacobs, spokesperson for the City’s Traffic Services, confirmed that traffic officials will meet this week with the ward councillor, the school, and engineers to address the ongoing concerns.

Reddam Constantia’s executive head, Alex Gitlin, said the school is exploring options to ease congestion, including negotiations with a transport operator to introduce a dedicated bus route.

“We have met with City traffic officials to find practical solutions. The school has not seen material growth in student numbers or a reduction in parking capacity in 2026 that would by itself explain the traffic volumes being experienced,” he said.

Mr Gitlin confirmed that four temporary classrooms have been on site since January while awaiting City approval for a capital project, which was granted at the end of 2025. Construction began this year and is expected to be completed by October.

“We already operate staggered start and finish times, and nothing else has fundamentally changed operationally on campus. We remain committed to working with the City, parents, and the wider community to implement measures that will alleviate congestion and the frustrations it is causing,” he added.

Ms Franklin encouraged road users to carpool, leave home earlier or later if possible, use alternative routes, and continue reporting dangerous driving or speeding.

She also highlighted examples such as the International School of Cape Town, which uses a shuttle service to help manage congestion, suggesting a similar approach could assist in the area.

“The City is taking this seriously and working with all parties to find a practical solution,” Ms Franklin said.

“We hope that once the Traffic Impact Assessment is complete, we can implement measures to improve safety and ease congestion for everyone using these roads.”

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