The Democratic Alliance (DA) says an oversight visit to Cape Town’s MyCiTi network found the system “fully accessible for guide dogs” citing on-site checks with trainers and assistance animals.

According to DA Member of Parliament (MP) Wendy Alexander: “I conducted [an] oversight [visit] with Councillor Rob Quintas, MMC for Transport in the City of Cape Town, to assess accessibility for people with visual impairments who rely on guide dogs…and [was] joined by professional guide dog trainers and their assistance animals…During the oversight, our delegation tested critical accessibility points, including navigating turnstiles, locating correct platforms, and boarding procedures.”

Alexander linked the visit to a DA policy push in Parliament, saying: “this oversight [visit] informs the DA’s preparations of a Private Member’s Bill focused on improving public access for people who use assistance animals across all of South Africa…accessibility cannot be a matter of goodwill alone – it must be enforced in legislation that provides clear rights and consistent standards nationwide.”