Emma Botha is a Cape Town-based journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting social-justice landscape for the Mail & Guardian, tracing stories from Parliament floor to Khayelitsha kitchen tables. Born and raised on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, she still hikes Lion’s Head before deadline days to remind herself why the mountain and the Mother City will always be her compass.
Bryan Habana, a famous rugby player, faced huge money problems because of his own father, Bernie. His dad stole about R1822 million, forged Bryan’s name on papers, and ignored taxes. This left Bryan’s bank account almost empty, even though he earned a lot. It was a sad story of family trust turning into a big financial mess.
Botswana suddenly stopped South African vegetable imports, causing chaos for farmers and markets. This big move was to help local farmers and create jobs before elections. South Africa is now thinking about striking back, maybe by hurting Botswana’s valuable fruit exports. This whole mess shows big cracks in their old trade agreement, leaving many wondering what will happen next for both countries.
Imagine a dusty old airstrip, once just for small planes and skydivers, now becoming a supersmart airport city! This R8billion project, Cape Winelands Airport, is building a huge runway for big cargo and passenger planes. It will have fancy wine cellars right in the terminal and special cold rooms for fresh goods. This amazing transformation will help clear traffic, boost business, and get delicious exports to the world faster.
South African prisons are bursting at the seams, holding double the number of people they were built for! Thousands of foreign inmates are stuck, making things even worse because sending them home is super slow. This dangerous overcrowding causes sickness and makes crime even more organized inside. The system is like a ticking time bomb, needing quick changes to stop it from exploding.
A peaceful Saturday in Factreton shattered when a 14yearold girl, simply enjoying the sun, was tragically killed by stray bullets during a gang shootout. This senseless act, part of an escalating war between the Americans and Nice Times gangs over a stolen cocaine parcel, also wounded a neighbor. The community, heartbroken and enraged, is now transforming their grief into a powerful call for justice and a safer future, demanding action beyond tears to protect their children from this brutal cycle of violence.
The Springboks face a super tough Rugby World Cup! They’re in a pool with tricky teams like Italy, Georgia, and Romania, who are all ready for a fight. The new, bigger tournament means every game is super important, no easy wins here. They’ll need to play smart, keep their best players fresh, and avoid mistakes, because giants like Ireland and France are waiting. Winning this third cup would be huge, making them legends!
A brave veterinary team faced a scary attack by nine masked men who wanted their van and medicines. The team, along with local heroes, fought back smartly. They kept their crucial vaccines safe and escaped the danger, showing how strong communities can be even when facing big threats.
The Blitzboks, South Africa’s rugby sevens team, flipped their season around at the Cape Town Sevens! They powerfully beat tough teams like Fiji and New Zealand. They played smart, with huge effort, and amazing strength, even when they had fewer players. This win totally changed how they felt after losing badly just a week before.
Cape Town is caught in a rent war, tangled by history, fast growth, and global money. Simple rent caps sound good but could cause big problems like fewer homes and neglected buildings. The city needs clever plans that build more houses and help people now, not just quick fixes, because this is a really old and complex problem that needs smart solutions.
Cape Town’s government offices close for the holidays from December 20, 2025, to January 2, 2026. This means important services like car license renewals and bill payments won’t be available. If you need to do anything with the city, you must do it before these dates. This guide helps you plan ahead and avoid problems during the festive season.
South Africa has a law from 1998 that stops its citizens from helping foreign armies without permission. Recently, five people were caught trying to leave the country with plans to work for a foreign army, showing this old law is still active. This law was first used against Mark Thatcher, the son of a British prime minister, for funding a coup. Now, recruiters use social media and tricky methods to send South Africans to fight in other countries’ wars. This old law, with its big fines and jail time, is now facing a new challenge as it’s being used against people connected to powerful families.
Gavin Hunt, a respected coach with lots of wins, just lost his job at Durban City. Even though he has tons of experience and has won many trophies, his team was only eighth, and he was let go. Now, people are wondering if he will coach big teams like Kaizer Chiefs or even the national team, Bafana Bafana. He’s ready and waiting for his next big chance!
South Africa launched “Operation Sweet Truth” to stop fake honey sales. Police and food experts raid places, finding syrup mixed with a tiny bit of real honey. This fake honey tricks people and harms health, especially for babies and diabetics. The law is now tough, with big fines and jail time. They use special tests to find the fakes super fast. This helps real beekeepers and makes sure people get true, safe honey.
Cape Town residents, get ready for a sparkling clean holiday season! This guide is your secret weapon to handle all that festive waste like a pro. Learn about special collection days, grab orange tags for extra rubbish, and remember to rinse your recyclables for a second life. Don’t forget dropoff spots for tricky items and how to report any missed collections super fast. Let’s keep our beautiful city tidy while we celebrate!
Cape Town is bursting with sports action from December 5th to 7th, 2025! You can cheer for the Proteas Women’s cricket team at Newlands against Ireland. Then, get ready for super exciting rugby sevens at DHL Stadium with the SVNS Cape Town tournament. And don’t miss Cape Town City FC playing football at Athlone Stadium. It’s a weekend full of thrills and fun for everyone!
South Africa’s 2025 budget lifts key social grants, giving more money to the elderly, disabled, war veterans, foster carers, and children. These grants help millions afford basics like food, school, and shelter, acting as a lifeline in tough times. The government also keeps the COVIDera relief grant going, showing it cares about longterm support. Beyond cash, plans are underway to link grants with job training and work chances, aiming to help people build better futures. This mix of care and opportunity reflects South Africa’s hope for a fairer, kinder society.