CoCT’s R115m N2 wall won’t fix root causes of crime: urban planner

The City of Cape Town’s decision to allocate R115 million to build a wall along parts of the N2 highway has triggered a fierce debate about safety, symbolism and the deeper causes of crime.

The wall is set to be erected along sections of the N2 where motorists who stop, often due to breakdowns or traffic, have been targeted in violent attacks. Regular road users have dubbed the stretch the ‘hell run’ because of the frequency and severity of incidents.

While there is an acknowledgement of the security concerns, critics argue that the move raises uncomfortable questions about division and inequality.

Security measure or symbolic barrier?

Urban planner Tumi Mpisi, speaking on CapeTalk, questioned whether the city can separate the security case from the broader social implications of erecting a wall.

“For me, the fundamental starting point would be to have data that helps you [show] that the solution that you’re proposing will actually be effective to the problem that you’re trying to solve,” she said.

The city maintains that data support the intervention and that the wall will reduce opportunistic crimes such as smash-and-grabs and more serious violent attacks. While acknowledging that a wall will not completely eradicate crime, officials argue it will make a positive contribution to motorist safety.

However, Mpisi said any short-term solution must be backed by evidence and accompanied by longer-term strategies.

“I’m not saying let’s ignore the building of the wall,” she said. “If the engineering advice is that it is a temporary solution. But let’s also tackle the more difficult issues of division, exclusion, poverty and inequality.”

Addressing root causes

The debate has also centred on whether those committing crimes are ‘forced’ by circumstances or making individual choices, particularly given that many residents in surrounding communities do not engage in criminal activity.

Mpisi argued that the broader context of inequality cannot be ignored.

“What is actually forcing them to risk their lives to go onto international highways and freeways to do what we would label as petty crimes?” she asked.

She pointed to Cape Town’s high levels of inequality and said long-term sustainability depends on addressing structural issues.

“We’ve got three spheres of government, and local government ought to do something about employment creation [and] uplifting the general community,” she said, adding that local economic development falls within municipalities’ responsibilities.

Cost versus impact

The R115 million price tag has also come under scrutiny. Critics have questioned whether the funds could deliver a greater return if invested in social upliftment, education or enhanced policing.

“If we had to take that similar amount of money and invest in social uplifting initiatives, would those not yield a far greater return on investment?” Mpisi asked.

The city, for its part, is expected to argue that it is already running multiple programmes aimed at reducing inequality, but that it cannot afford to delay immediate interventions while waiting for long-term socio-economic reforms to take effect.

As construction plans move forward, the N2 wall has become more than a traffic safety measure; it is now a flashpoint in a broader conversation about crime, governance and the legacy of spatial division in South Africa.

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