Cape Town -
Capetonians have been urged to “make black people feel welcome” in their city this weekend.
The appeal was from provincial ANC leader Marius Fransman, ahead of the party’s 103rd anniversary on Saturday.
“We are upbeat. Our people will be coming from the valleys, hills, the coast, townships, Cape Flats, fishing communities. It is going to be amazing.
“We are going to fill the stadium,” Fransman said, adding that the event was a major investment in the local hospitality industry.
Fransman said the ANC would “provide buses and taxis” to ensure that locals had transport to the stadium event, scheduled to run until 4pm.
Local residents should expect the closure of a number of roads throughout the central city for the duration of today’s event, which acting mayor Brett Herron warned would negatively impact traffic flow.
“Motorists are advised to plan their trips accordingly,” he urged.
Among the main roads closed until 7pm today are Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Portswood Road, Granger Bay Boulevard and Helen Suzman Boulevard.
Buitengracht and Beach Road in Sea Point will be affected until 10am this morning, then again from 3pm to 6pm, when the right lane on each will be used as a “bus and emergency lane, and police escort in both directions”.
The Fan Walk leading to the stadium will be closed to cars from 2.30pm to 5pm.
Access to
Waterkant and Lower Burg streets, as well as to Buitengracht, will be for residents and business only between 12.30pm and 7pm. No parking will be permitted.
Herron said anyone attending the event at the stadium could take a MyCiTi bus running between the Civic Centre and stadium free of charge “on presentation of a valid wristband for the event”. The shuttles start running at 6am, every 15 minutes until 6.30pm.
MyCiTi buses will also operate free between the Kuyasa station stop in Khayelitsha and the Civic Centre.
Golden Arrow buses will still operate, and Metrorail services to and from Cape Town will run as normal, he added. “Additional train services will be provided on the central and northern lines ,” Herron said.
- Saturday Argus