The City of Cape Town says intensified highway patrols and safety interventions helped reduce serious accidents on major routes during the 2025/26 festive season, with a notable decline recorded on the N2.
City data shows that only nine serious incidents were reported on the N2 over the festive period, compared to 18 during the same period in 2024.
For more than a decade, the City has steadily increased its presence on major highways through the deployment of Metro Police, the Traffic Service’s Highway Patrol Unit, and the Ghost Squad. This was further strengthened by the recent addition of 37 Metro Police officers deployed around Cape Town International Airport and surrounding routes, which experience high traffic volumes during peak travel periods.
Since July 2025, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) has logged 8,552 calls for assistance on major highways. The majority of these incidents involved mechanical breakdowns, flat tyres, and vehicles running out of fuel, while just 86 cases, were crime-related.
City agencies also made 148 arrests as part of highway patrol operations. Among the most recent were two arrests on 8 January, including a suspect detained at the N1/N7 interchange for possession of a dangerous weapon, later linked to multiple house robberies, and another arrested in Montana after allegedly threatening a motorist at gunpoint near the Airport Approach slip road onto the N2.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, says the figures show that road-related incidents remain the primary concern on the City’s highways.
“The data shows that mechanical breakdowns and vehicle-related faults are what our officers attend to most, to assist and protect motorists. Attacks make up only a fraction of incidents reported through official channels.”
He urged the public to report all incidents through official platforms to ensure accurate records and swift response.
“There have been numerous reports of attacks on social media, but it’s important that incidents are reported to SAPS and the Public Emergency Communication Centre so that there is a proper record and an appropriate response.”
The City says many incidents are detected even without a call for assistance, thanks to CCTV monitoring. Between 1 September 2024 and 11 January 2026, 2,895 motorists were assisted on the N2 between Langa and Firgrove, with 1,061 incidents detected by CCTV operators who dispatched help immediately.
