The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate wants to give MyCiTi commuters as much notice as possible of an upcoming fare increase so that households can budget ahead. It is likely that the MyCiTi fares will increase from July 2026 because of the sustained high diesel price. The City has protected MyCiTi commuters from the fuel price increases since March this year and will also do so in June.

However, should the diesel price increase at the level we have seen over the past two months, a MyCiTi fare increase will be unavoidable.The City has absorbed the costs of the exceptional increases in the diesel price since March this year. Thus, we have protected MyCiTi commuters from the devastating impact for three months already and will continue to do so in June. However, the City wants to inform commuters ahead of time that the MyCiTi fares will likely increase from July 2026 onwards, depending on the new diesel price that the National Government will announce on the first Wednesday in June.  It is anticipated that the MyCiTi fares could increase with at least 32%.

‘We have tried our utmost best to protect our MyCiTi commuters for as long as possible against the sky-high diesel prices and we are still trying. Unfortunately, we cannot do so for much longer. Commuters will be able to save money in June, but as from July, the MyCiTi fares may be higher. We want to inform commuters a few weeks in advance so that they can budget for this increase. Other public transport service providers have already passed on the rising fuel costs to their customers, and I am sorry to say that we have now also reached that point where we can no longer avoid increases indefinitely,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

• Given the geo-political uncertainty and the conflict in the Middle East, the City is making provision for the possibility of even higher diesel prices in the months ahead
• The new fare levels that were adopted by the Portfolio Committee on Urban Mobility earlier today now make provision for a diesel price of up to R40,75 per litre
• This recommendation will serve before Council for approval at its meeting on 27 May 2026
• The City will inform commuters once the MyCiTi fare increase is a certainty, and if so, what the increase will entail
• Any increase will also apply to those making use of the Dial-a-Ride service

‘The conflict in the Middle East is causing genuine hardship for ordinary people around the world, especially the most vulnerable people in society. We can’t control global oil markets, but we want to assure commuters that we will keep on trying to make the service as affordable as possible for as long as possible. Even after an increase, MyCiTi will remain one of the most affordable road-based public transport services in Cape Town and is still far cheaper than driving in your private car and cheaper than taxis and other bus services for monthly long-distance commuters. Despite these global challenges, we will continue to work to keep Cape Town moving, as affordably as we can,’ said Councillor Quintas.

We will inform commuters of exact increases after the announcement by National Government on 3 June 2026.