@pmdreborn Of course we should have both to some degree, however we have already overbuilt our road system in much of the country and it's sucking the life out of our public transport, both in budget and in ridership.
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New Streets
1.5K posts
New Streets
@NewStreetsSA
Our cities don't need to suck
Cape Town Katılım Kasım 2020
220 Takip Edilen2.2K Takipçiler
@NewStreetsSA No, we can advocate for both. In a country like ours we should know that different modes of transport serve different purposes, needs and people’s so we should push for better for all.
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Cut public expenditure on highway expansion, expand our rail system instead.
No more chronically under-funded public transport.
Jos 🇿🇦👨🏿💻 🚗@JosiahThobejane
Continue paying tax guys 🥹🫰🏿
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Issue is, this problem can take a long time to manifest as cities expand their road networks but do not see significant maintenance cost compound until decades later.
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It is possible to build too many roads to a point maintenance costs become so high, you either need make some hard budget cuts elsewhere or let the potholes grow.
Arguably, most South African cities went down this road and are now facing the consequences
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@NewStreetsSA @activeCitizenCT Outside Stellenbosch on Polkadraai road?
Eesti
Who needs world renowned, tranquil winelands when you can have highways, traffic and gated-community sprawl instead?
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Unlike more conventional industrial land uses, data centres don't produce loud intermittent noise.
But rather a constant 24/7 low frequency drone which may read deceptively quiet on a decibel meter, despite being quite disruptive.
So these must be placed well away from homes.
Daily Maverick@dailymaverick
SA’s biggest data centre ‘monster’ set to consume 25% of Durban’s electricity #Echobox=1772705396" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-0…
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treasury.gov.za is a very strong contender for a podium position in the worst government website award of 2026.
This is a discipline that is exceptionally competitive, who are your top picks for this award?
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@SA_lefty That ability to deliver services is one measure. However, how does Cape Town compare to a municipality that can deliver services? Are Cape Town's services value for money?
It could very well be the case, but could also not be the case. It requires a more detailed analysis.
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@NewStreetsSA You've gotta compare to other cities with similar services. Cape Town rates are cheap compared to other cities with 100% water and electricity uptime. Johannesburg rates are expensive compared to other cities with intermittent water and electricity.
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No one seems to have yet made a convincing argument if Cape Town has high rates or not, relative to other Metros.
Few seem to understand the nuances of determining this and most seem to calculate this in way that best suits their narrative.
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@RashiqFataar Not an apples for apples comparison, a municipality with high property values would naturally be able to charge lower rates relative to valuations.
You would need to adjust for that plus several other nuances. How this list would look after that is hard to say.
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Property rates in South African cities for a R2.5m* home:
1.eThekwini (Durban): ~R34k–36k Pa (~R3k/month)
2.Ekurhuleni: ~R28k–30k pa
3.Tshwane: ~R25k–26k per pa
4.Johannesburg: ~R22k–23k pa
5.Cape Town: ~R13k–15k pa(~R1.1k/month)
*single owner, primary residence, standard rebates applied
Cde Volodymyr³@RGRSA
Cape Town is in a different universe compared to other Metros
HT
So this house in Cape Town (per city website):
> Rates of R35 000 /m or R430 000 /yr
> Official valuation at R60 m
> Last sold for R 93 m (2024)
Jordan Griffiths@JordiGriff
Just crazy the property rates in Cape Town. Take a look at this R189 million mansion in BishopsCourt listed on Property24. The agent has the rates listed at R18 000 per month in the advert. Totally unaffordable.
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@FanieSP If cross subsidies where not thing, Durbanville would have gravel roads and no amenities while Seapoint would have bullet trains and roller coasters as public transport.
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@NewStreetsSA Hmm - so what %age of residents are paying zero rates? Again, where is the money being spent?
No-one who pays 0 should be receiving any services subsidized by those paying.
This is basic morality.
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Cape Town rates vs home value (GVA 2022):
R0 (rates/m) = less than R435 000 (home value)
R1 000 = R2.1 million
R30 000 = R50 milllion
R120 000 = R200 million
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@GnowerLot Your realtor doesn't determine your valuation used for rates, the City of Cape Town does and it is likely lower than the real valuation of your home ;)
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Getting my realtor to give me the lowest valuation possible.
New Streets@NewStreetsSA
Cape Town rates vs home value (GVA 2022): R0 (rates/m) = less than R435 000 (home value) R1 000 = R2.1 million R30 000 = R50 milllion R120 000 = R200 million
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@chriskost @KeNHAKenya @Roads_KE @TransportKE @TheIEK Ah yes, classic transport planning from the 1960s.
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A “modern” cross section would have wide walkways, cycle tracks, trees, and dedicated median lanes for public transport.
@KeNHAKenya @Roads_KE @TransportKE @TheIEK
Kenyans.co.ke@Kenyans
Ongoing expansion of the Mombasa–Mariakani Highway into a modern dual carriageway
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*To note, official valuation found on the General Valuation Roll of 2022 will in general be quite a bit lower lower than real valuation on the open market in 2026.
However, rates are still calculated on that lower amount.
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Can the growth or development of an area really be seen as "progress" if it's mostly the result of another's decline?
Small town CBDs (decline) -> Shopping malls (growth)
Jhb CBD -> Sandton
Durban CBD -> Umhlanga
Johannesburg -> Cape Town
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@HooskyJp A concrete wall reduces noise for the houses directly at the highway, but can make it worse for the houses slightly further way since concrete just bounces the sound around.
This why in Europe highway walls are made of special materials/shapes that absorb the noise (energy).
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@NewStreetsSA Tell us about this "propagate noise"? I think it will be quiet concrete rather than the noise propagating type. Eish.
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Will Cape Town's N2 wall be designed to dampen traffic noise or will it just be a bare concrete wall that propagates noise into the surrounding neighbourhoods?
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