Today, Church Square is home to historically and architecturally significant buildings which are primarily occupied by various government functions. This includes the Palace of Justice, the Old Capitol Theatre, the Tudor Chambers, the Ou Raadsaal (Old Council Chamber) and the General Post Office, which are primarily occupied by various government functions. The square has fully pedestrianised access, with parking on the periphery and a thoroughfare for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system known as A Re Yeng. 

Church Square is a worthy destination both for residents of and visitors to the City. Optimal accessibility and the experience one has as they access Church Square is worth investing in. As such, the focus ‘area’ of this exercise is the streets that give access to Church Square. 

Approx. site area: 

• The access streets to Church Square are Madiba Street, Pretorius Street, and WF Nkomo/Helen Joseph Street. Cumulatively, these areas measure 1.3km in length. 

Key Information:

• Primarily surrounded by government offices, the site is a hive of activity during work hours.
• Young people and students use the space as a space to move through to their next destination. On occasion, tourists can also be found exploring the square. 

Priority areas & main expectations:

Improve access to Church Square and the area’s image by:

• Enhancing pedestrianisation.

• Cycle routes and/or solutions to provide overall movement and connectivity.

• Considerations around safety

• Beautification that is inclusive of landscaping and greening.

• Social spaces for the multitudes of inner-city workers.

• Climate consideration, specifically around the urban heat island effect and reduced emissions.