Plans by the City of Cape Town to spend more than R114 million on a safety wall and related infrastructure along the N2 highway have triggered sharp political criticism, with opposition parties accusing the metro of prioritising optics over addressing the root causes of crime and poverty.
The project, known as the N2 Edge Safety Project, will span approximately 9km of the highway between Cape Town International Airport and the city centre.
Curb smash-and-grab
According to the City, the initiative aims to curb smash-and-grab crimes and improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians along one of Cape Town’s busiest routes.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has defended the project, insisting that it goes beyond simply constructing a wall.
“This project will not only repair and install safety barriers, but will also include new pedestrian crossings, improved lighting and safety interventions for recreational spaces along the N2,” Hill-Lewis said.
He added that the infrastructure upgrades would work alongside increased law enforcement visibility, noting that additional metro police officers have already been deployed to strengthen highway patrols along the route.
Criticised the project
However, the African National Congress (ANC) has criticised the project, arguing that it focuses on appearances rather than meaningful safety interventions.
ANC Cape Town caucus leader Ndithini Tyhido said the wall was designed to shield tourists from visible poverty in communities bordering the highway.
“This is about hiding poverty from tourists who travel from the airport into the city,” Tyhido said, accusing the City of marginalising communities living near the N2.
Tyhido argued that the funding would be better directed toward community-based crime prevention initiatives.
“Instead of building a wall, that money should be used to capacitate neighbourhood watches and community policing forums so that communities themselves benefit,” he said.
Long-term solution
Concerns have also been raised by other political parties.
The GOOD Party questioned whether the project offers a long-term solution to crime or merely creates a physical barrier without addressing deeper social and economic challenges facing surrounding communities.
Supporters of the project argue that immediate infrastructure upgrades are necessary to protect road users and reduce crime along a critical transport corridor.
Critics, however, warn that the wall risks reinforcing inequality and diverting resources away from sustainable community development.
The City has indicated that public engagement will continue as part of its budget process.
The debate around the N2 safety wall reflects broader tensions in Cape Town over crime prevention, tourism priorities and social justice.
