As 2025 gets underway and people get back to work and school, it will perhaps not come as a surprise to many that the Mother City has again topped the list as South Africa’s most congested City, with a recent report estimating that drivers spend an average of 94 hours in traffic in Cape Town.

According to the INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, traffic congestion in Cape Town in 2024 was even worse than in 2023 – with the number of hours stuck in traffic increasing by 13% year-on-year.

The annual traffic report by Inrix analyzes data collected from vehicles, mobile phones, and cameras.

Cape Town’s staggering 94 hours lost to traffic far exceeds that of other South African cities.

In Johannesburg, drivers spent an average of 55 hours in congestion, followed by Pretoria with 45 hours, Durban with 35 hours, and Pietermaritzburg with 33 hours. Gqeberha, East London, Bloemfontein, Vanderbijlpark, and Welkom in the Free State recorded significantly lower figures, with Welkom standing out as the least congested at just six hours per year.

Global Comparison

South African cities still lag behind international traffic hotspots. Istanbul topped the global list, with commuters spending 105 hours in rush-hour traffic in 2024. It was followed by New York and Chicago, where drivers lost 102 hours each.

The Inrix report, which reviewed data from 945 cities across 37 countries—primarily focusing on the US, UK, and Germany—was released on January 6, 2025.

The index considers city size and infrastructure to assess whether road networks adequately serve residents.

Post-Pandemic Traffic Trends

According to Bob Pishue, transport expert and compiler of the Inrix report, traffic volumes worldwide are steadily returning to pre-COVID-19 levels. In the United States, the trend of remote and hybrid work is declining, particularly in tech hubs like San Jose, San Francisco, and Seattle.

As more employees return to city centres, these areas are witnessing an economic revival, with increased activity even on weekends.

Pishue notes that while higher traffic volumes can signal economic growth, they also bring significant economic costs. “Every minute a person is stuck in traffic represents a loss of money and productivity,” he says, highlighting the double-edged nature of congestion.

ALSO READ: New rules for driving licence examiners, motorists