Residents of Bergvliet have expressed concerns over the traffic plans for a proposed Tokai High School, prompting them to conduct their own technical review of the traffic assessment. The review has raised questions about the school's potential impact on surrounding roads, which would need to accommodate over 1,100 learners traveling to and from the school. The Bergvliet Voluntary Association (BVA) has called for an urgent review of the traffic plans and greater transparency in the decision-making process.
The proposed Tokai High School is planned for a 3.8-hectare site on Ruskin Road, with a projected 30 classrooms, sports field, and school hall. The BVA had agreed to participate in the Tokai High School Interim Steering Committee, a forum for engagement between community representatives, the City of Cape Town, and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). However, the committee has not met, despite concerns over traffic and other community impacts. The BVA is now calling for the committee to reconvene and address community concerns.
The BVA's independent technical review has identified several issues with the City's traffic impact assessment (TIA). These include questions about the accuracy of traffic models, the whereabouts of additional traffic counts conducted in June 2026, and whether proposed access points from Ruskin Road and Leyden Road have been adequately assessed. The BVA believes these issues should be addressed transparently by the WCED and the City.
The proposed school's traffic impact has been a concern since plans were made public. Leyden Road, a narrow residential road, is expected to serve as a main access route to the school. Residents have also raised concerns about the school's potential impact on the local community, particularly in terms of traffic congestion and safety. The BVA is seeking clarity on whether the proposed school has been adequately assessed and whether community representatives are being given a meaningful opportunity to engage with the decision-making process.
In response to the BVA's concerns, City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas stated that the City's role was statutory, as the proposed development is a Western Cape Government project. Quintas said any further technical review or engagement regarding the TIA should be directed to the Traffic Engineer appointed by the Western Cape Government. The City's Urban Mobility Directorate was not involved in any steering committee relating to the Bergvliet project, Quintas added.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department remained committed to constructive engagement with stakeholders and the broader community throughout the implementation of the project. Hammond stated that the department had engaged extensively throughout the planning process and would continue to provide information on project milestones and opportunities for engagement. The steering committee would reconvene once the WCED had made a formal decision regarding its approval.
The WCED is currently finalizing the remaining project planning and procurement processes. A construction commencement date can only be confirmed once these processes have been concluded and a contractor has been appointed. The BVA is not questioning the need for additional schools but rather seeking clarity on whether the proposed school, at its planned scale and location, has been adequately assessed.
Key points
- - Residents of Bergvliet have raised concerns over the traffic assessment for the proposed Tokai High School. - The Bergvliet Voluntary Association has called for an urgent review of the traffic plans and greater transparency in the decision-making process. - The proposed school is planned to accommodate over 1,100 learners and has raised concerns about its potential impact on surrounding roads.
