V&A Waterfront blames e-hailing, driver behaviour for traffic hell

CAPE TOWN – The V&A Waterfront says increased e-hailing activity, tourism growth and driver behaviour are contributing to persistent traffic congestion around Dock Road, South Arm Road and the Silo District.

Commuters have raised concerns about heavy traffic heading into the precinct, particularly when entering via Ebenezer Road and along Dock Road near the Astron filling station.

The congestion has become a regular feature in traffic bulletins, with motorists reporting blocked intersections and long delays.

More vehicles are circulating throughout the day

V&A Waterfront spokesperson Donald Kau confirmed that traffic volumes have increased.

“There is definitely a lot more traffic coming into the Waterfront,” he said.

He explained that more motorists are using alternative routes, including the smaller Port Road behind the Apple Store and connections via Ebenezer Road, which feeds into already busy intersections.

But Kau said the issue goes beyond peak-hour pressure.

“The thing that’s probably had the most profound impact on our neighbourhood is more observable throughout the city. You simply have more cars constantly, all through the day, circulating on the business streets.”

He added that driver behaviour was compounding the problem.

“They’re slow driving, looking at their phones. They’re going to drop somebody off in the offices or in the Silo area. They’re not utilising the drop-off areas properly, so they’re loitering around, and I think cumulatively that does add a huge amount to the slowdown of the movement of traffic.”

Operational harbour adds to pressure

Kau also pointed out that the Waterfront remains a working harbour.

Container trucks, delivery vehicles, fishing operations and access to the dry dock all add to traffic volumes in the area.

“We have about 30,000 people who work in the Waterfront,” he said, noting growth in the office portfolio and continued visitor demand.

The Waterfront is engaging with port authorities about directing more truck traffic through Marine Drive via port permit access to reduce congestion on public roads.

E-hailing challenge

A major contributor to congestion appears to be the rise in e-hailing vehicles.

Kau said the precinct has expanded designated drop-off and pick-up areas, including near the Oranjezicht Market, the Wheel and Victoria Wharf.

However, managing e-hailing vehicles remains difficult.

“It is a difficult one,” he said. “The drivers are not going to pull off and park where they know that there’s going to be a meter person taking down whatever small margin already that they earn, so they tend to circulate.”

Unlike traditional taxis that operate from ranks, e-hailing drivers rely on proximity-based pickups, meaning they stay in motion to secure nearby trips.

Kau described it as ‘a feature of the modern world’, adding that the Waterfront would deploy more traffic marshals across the precinct to try to manage flow.

Despite frustrations, he insisted that parking capacity remains sufficient, though moving traffic efficiently around drop-off zones remains an ongoing challenge.

The Waterfront is Africa’s most visited tourist destination; it received 25 million tourists in 2025, compared to the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, in second place, having received 19 million visitors.

Officials acknowledge that popularity inevitably comes with pressure on surrounding roads.

For more details, listen to Kau using the audio player below: