Extortionists Aim to Undermine Cape Town’s MyCiTi Bus System

The City of Cape Town asserts that extortionists are actively working to sabotage the MyCiTi bus project on Govan Mbeki Road in Philippi, which commenced in 2022.

This week, the City expressed its satisfaction with the Western Cape High Court’s decision to extend an interim interdict issued last month against the Philippi Business Forum, Crossroads Business Forum, and two of their members.

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The interdict, valid until 21 April 2026, forbids intimidation and threats against officials and workers, as well as unauthorized site access, with additional court discussions set for that date.

The City has reported instances of contractors being threatened with death.

According to the City of Cape Town, the forums failed to file affidavits explaining why the order should not be made permanent.

In a press statement, Rob Quintas, the Mayco member for urban mobility, remarked, “Self-proclaimed ‘activists’ in the Philippi Business Forum, Crossroads Business Forum, and related groups have resorted to intimidation, threats, and misinformation in their efforts to control employment opportunities.”

Quintas added, “There are legal and transparent procedures in place for local businesses and residents in the affected wards to apply for the opportunities arising from this construction project.”

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The City emphasized in its announcement: “The interdict does not prevent anyone from participating in the project. It only stops those attempting to hijack it through intimidation, violence, and sabotage. The City encourages eligible businesses to submit their profiles at designated submission boxes located in the sub-council offices.”

Attorney Ashley Leeuw, who represents the business forums, informed GroundUp that the City labeling his clients as extortionists in the press release was “harmful to their reputation.”

Leeuw stated, “This is very unjust to our clients.”

“Due to time constraints, we were unable to contest the interim interdict; however, we have filed a motion to challenge it,” he elaborated. “There is no definitive court interdict against my clients.”

Work will continue …

He mentioned that the interim order was granted to enable ongoing work at the site.

“The allegations made in the City’s court application are unequivocally denied as false,” he asserted, adding that his clients do not plan to visit the site.

“All the claims that we have intimidated workers at the site are complete fabrications,” declared Thanduxolo Xokoza, secretary of the Philippi Business Forum, to GroundUp.

“This issue began last year when the sub-council invited us to an information session on how we could engage with and benefit from the project, and that was the last communication we received from the City.”

He noted that small businesses from Philippi approached the site on 15 May to gather information from the Community Liaison Officers, specifying that their approach was non-confrontational.

On 28 May, these businesses returned to halt construction until their concerns were addressed.

“The project was paused last week until our businesses were given an opportunity,” Xokoza stated.

“We also have companies ready to undertake some of the construction work. The community is eager to get involved with this project. We are entrepreneurs with every right to participate,” he emphasized.

“We were taken aback to see work resume last month, prompting businesses to unite and approach the main contractor at the site,” said Nokuzola Mpimpi from the Crossroads Business Forum.

Construction resumed on Wednesday.

© 2025 GroundUp. This article was first published here.

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