Safe Passage Programme

The Safe Passage Programme is a public private partnership founded and funded by SDI Trust, and led by Young Urbanists, working with cities, partners and communities to improve safety, access and connectivity between informal and formal areas. It forms part of the Just Energy Transition implementation programme, linking mobility, access and local economic development to broader climate and infrastructure priorities.

The programme delivers practical interventions that support daily movement and local economies. This includes safer walking and cycling routes, improved public space, lighting, traffic calming, public transport integration and stronger first and last mile connections, with a focus on the majority of users who rely on these systems.

Implementation includes completed Phase 01 work in Tshwane on the Mamelodi to Garsfontein Safe Passage corridor, where two intersections between Lynnwood Road and Solomon Mahlangu Drive were upgraded with Always On traffic lights powered by solar energy to ensure continuous operation during load shedding and improve safety and visibility for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

In Cape Town, recent work includes the Bree Street Experiment in the CBD, delivered as part of the Safe Passage Precinct. This pilot reallocates road space between Wale and Shortmarket Streets to one mixed traffic lane in each direction, supported by delineator kerbs, bollards, expanded pedestrian space, formalised loading zones, seating and landscaping. It tests Bree Street as a Special Activity Street in line with the City’s CBD Mobility and Accessibility Plan, while improving safety, supporting local business and prioritising people. The project also integrates with the Safe Mobility Hub Programme through Tier 02 elements that support last mile delivery and street level operations.

The programme continues to expand, with active work in Cape Town and new implementation underway in Durban CBD, focusing on key routes that connect communities to jobs, transport and services. Future phases will scale the model across cities, building a network of safe, connected corridors that support both movement and local economic activity.

Safe Passage is supported through a public private partnership model that combines philanthropic funding, private sector investment and city collaboration. The programme enables partners to fund specific corridors, interventions or infrastructure, while also unlocking commercial opportunities linked to safer streets, improved public space and increased economic activity. This model supports long term sustainability, ongoing maintenance and the ability to scale implementation across cities.