[imagesource:wikicommons]

Residents of the colourful neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the convoys of tourist buses that clog up their streets.

About 40 locals demonstrated in Wale Street in support of their long-standing demand that the City implement a traffic plan for Bo-Kaap.

Gatvol residents say that as many as eight to ten buses make their way through the narrow streets at any given time, causing major disruptions to residents who often have to sit in “traffic jams” outside their front doors.

Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association (BKRCA) executive member Mogamat Noor Osman explains: “So many of these big buses are coming in, 40-seater buses, they just drop people and then they go and then obstruct the traffic.”

The residents don’t have a bit of privacy. They are just being bombarded by tourist buses that come in and do their own thing without respect for the community.”

Locals say they are not opposed to the tourists, but rather the massive buses. “Sometimes they come in three or four or five at a time. It’s really chaos.”

BKRCA chairperson Osman Shabodien added: “It’s an age-old concern of 2017 when we first had the Traffic Plan drawn up and then upgraded in 2021.

“There were arrangements made (for buses) to stand on Riebeeck Square and the tourists would walk into Bo-Kaap. It’s a simple plan…but once again we are up against an attitude of the City.”

Ward councillor Francine Higham said the City has been working on a traffic plan.

“I am hoping that we can sit down with the community and the BKCRA on the 3rd of December to talk through that, to get their feedback and then to hopefully implement it as soon as possible.”

December holidays are sure to bring more traffic headaches for the mense of the Bo-Kaap, lets hope the city gets on with their traffic plan.

[source:voice]