Plan your route: Key road closures in Cape Town for SONA 2026

As the finishing touches are being put on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, it also means that the number of road closures within the Cape Town centre has increased tenfold.

Since the start of the week, several road closures have been in place in and around the City of Cape Town. The city has asked motorists to take note of the affected roads as some closures will remain in effect until Friday, February 13.

The city stated that traffic flow in and around the CBD will be affected before, during, and after the event.

Some of these closures will be in place until February 28, 2026. Available parking space in some areas will also be affected.

Although signage will be installed in the affected areas, motorists are requested to please familiarise themselves with the list of road closures and plan their routes accordingly.

Several major streets in the city centre will be closed or partially restricted at various times, including:

• Darling Street, between Plein and Buitenkant streets – Closed 4am to 11.59pm on Thursday, February 12, and 9am to 11.45pm from Friday, 13, to Thursday, February 26.
• Corporation Street, between Caledon and Darling streets – Closed 12am to11.45pm on Thursday, February 12, and 9am to 11.45pm from February 13 to 26.
• Plein Street/Lower Plein Street, between Roeland and Castle streets – Closed 12am to 11.45pm on Thursday, February 12, and 9am to 11.45pm from February 13 to 26.
• Commercial Street, between Plein and Buitenkant streets – Closed 4am to 11.45pm on Thursday, February 12.
• Buitenkant Street, between Roeland and Darling streets – Traffic control in place from 5.45pm to 7.30pm on Thursday, February 12.
• Sir Lowry Road, between Tennant Street and Darling Street – Closed 12pm to 11.45pm on Thursday, February 12.

In areas such as Newlands, Rondebosch, Observatory, and Mowbray, rolling closures will be implemented on key routes, including:

• M3/Union Avenue/Rhodes Drive – Temporary closures for 35 minutes between 5.45pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, February 12.
• N2 City-bound carriageway – Intermittent closures 5.45pm to 7.30pm for 35 minutes

“Motorists are requested to limit non-essential travel in the CBD area over the period in question, factor in additional travelling time if they must move in and out or around the CBD and surrounds, as traffic volumes will likely be elevated, plan routes accordingly, keep intersections free between light changes as blocking interchanges causes further delays, and be patient and courteous,” the city said.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za