Commuters travelling on the MyCiTi D01 route between Khayelitsha and the Civic Centre station can expect to see some temporary changes as the City of Cape Town begins refurbishing the fleet operating on the busy N2 Express service.

The City has leased 14 buses to ensure services continue uninterrupted while the refurbishment programme takes place over the next three months. The temporary buses officially entered service on Monday, 11 May 2026.

According to the City, the refurbishment project will extend the lifespan of the buses and improve their overall condition, with commuters expected to benefit from vehicles that will be “as good as new” once the work is complete.

MyCiTi commuters from Mitchells Plain are also expected to benefit, as low-floor buses currently used on the D01 route will be redeployed to boost capacity on Mitchells Plain services.

However, the temporarily leased buses differ from the standard MyCiTi fleet in one key way: they are high-floor buses. This means they cannot dock at the Civic Centre station platform, which is specifically designed for low-floor buses.

As a result, D01 passengers travelling to and from the Civic Centre will now use a temporary stop on Hertzog Boulevard outside the Artscape Theatre Centre.

The City says commuters can still make use of the Civic Centre station facilities by tapping in and out within a 45-minute window without incurring additional costs.

Passengers transferring to other routes will also need to tap out on the temporary bus service before proceeding into the station to continue their journeys.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, acknowledged that the temporary arrangements may cause inconvenience, but said the measures are necessary to maintain reliable public transport services.

Quintas also noted that the leased buses do not include universal accessibility features such as boarding ramps and dedicated wheelchair spaces. However, he said low-floor buses will continue operating on the D01 route to accommodate commuters in wheelchairs.

SANParks is on the hunt for an individual who posted a video on social media in which he drives recklessly through a section of the Kruger National Park.

SANParks has slammed the actions of the driver as “dangerous and unlawful conduct” within this protected area under SANParks management.

“The footage shows the individual crossing rivers unlawfully, driving on roads that were officially closed, and operating a motor vehicle recklessly within a national park environment. Such behaviour demonstrates a blatant disregard for conservation regulations, public safety, environmental protection measures, and the authority of park management.”

Head of Communications JP Louw says conduct of this nature will not be tolerated and will be dealt with the seriousness it deserves.

Protected areas are governed by strict environmental legislation, including the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA), which prohibit activities that may endanger biodiversity, damage ecosystems, threaten public safety, or undermine the integrity of conservation areas.

Non-compliance with these provisions constitutes a serious offence and could result in criminal prosecution, substantial fines, imprisonment, civil liability for damages caused, and administrative sanctions.

“Driving through rivers, disregarding road closures, and reckless driving in protected areas not only place the lives of the individuals involved at risk, but also endanger wildlife, damage sensitive ecosystems, and compromise infrastructure and visitor safety. Road closures are implemented for specific operational, environmental, and safety reasons, particularly during periods of flooding, poor road conditions, or wildlife movement.”

Louw says efforts are currently underway to trace and identify the individual responsible for these actions.

“Once identified, the individual will face the full consequences of the law, including the imposition of fines and the withdrawal of access privileges to all protected areas managed by SANParks. We are looking for this individual, and he will face the music.”

Members of the public with information that may assist in identifying the individual are encouraged to contact SANParks through its official communication channels or the nearest law enforcement authority.

SANParks says gate officials seen on the video encouraging and supporting this behaviour will also face consequences.