The City of Cape Town has secured a final Western Cape High Court interdict aimed at protecting the MyCiTi Phase 2A expansion from extortion, intimidation and unlawful interference.

The order was granted on 4 August and applies to Don Sikhundla, Senzo Ntlaka, the Philippi Business Forum, the Crossroads Business Forum and others who unlawfully interfere with construction works.

The affected works include projects along Govan Mbeki Road in Philippi and elsewhere on the Lansdowne/Wetton Corridor.

The court also awarded costs to the City.

Workers and contractors protected

The order prohibits respondents from stopping or obstructing construction and from threatening City officials, contractors, workers or community members linked to the project.

Unauthorised access to construction sites and work areas is also prohibited unless written permission is obtained from the City’s project manager or an authorised representative.

SAPS has been directed to assist with enforcing the interdict.

Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas said the order would help protect workers and keep the project moving.

Project will serve Cape Flats communities

Phase 2A is a major expansion of Cape Town’s MyCiTi network.

The City says the project is intended to improve public transport links across the metro south-east and includes routes connecting areas such as Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain with Claremont and Wynberg.

The City says the wider Cape Flats expansion is expected to benefit around 1.4 million residents across 30 neighbourhoods.

Extortion delays infrastructure projects

Quintas said extortion has become a serious threat to road and transport projects in areas including Philippi, Nyanga, Delft and Samora Machel.

Between July 2025 and May 2026, Urban Mobility requested 1,274 security escorts for contractors, using 8,406 hours of law-enforcement resources.

The City says contractors may refuse to work in high-risk areas when they face threats or demands for protection money.

Its response includes court action, additional security, community engagement and cooperation with SAPS.

Residents have also been encouraged to report extortion anonymously as Cape Town pushes to prevent criminal interference from delaying major public infrastructure.