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Cape Town News
Cape Town is getting ready for an unforgettable Rugby World Cup final between the Springboks and the All Blacks in 2023. The City of Cape Town has announced three public viewing venues, each with large screens broadcasting the game live and local DJs providing entertainment. The venues are located in Bree Street, the Monwabisi Sport and Recreation Centre in Langa, and the Westridge Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain, and safety measures will be in place to ensure the safety of attendees.
South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development, Stella NdabeniAbrahams, spoke at the Franchise Association of South Africa conference, highlighting the importance of collaboration between FASA and her department to promote small business growth through franchising. She also emphasized education and training to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship in South Africa, celebrating the nation’s diverse cultural heritage. The conference provided valuable insights, networking opportunities, and showcased the government’s commitment to strengthening the franchising sector.
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Education report on South Africa’s education system has faced criticism for being weak, misleading, and onesided. The report’s limited methodology, failure to engage with current government activities, exclusion of language issues, and reliance on outdated and flawed data all contribute to a weak and unhelpful understanding of the challenges and progress made in South Africa’s education sector. The Department of Basic Education has expressed disappointment in the report and called for a more comprehensive and accurate approach to analyzing the education system.
PRASA, South Africa’s Passenger Rail Agency, is revolutionizing the country’s railways by launching two major development projects aimed at enhancing living conditions and providing affordable housing. The Goodwood Station Social Housing initiative aims to deliver over a thousand affordable rental units by October 2023, while the Cape Town Station development will offer 3,200 beds for students and a revamped retail precinct. PRASA’s diversified portfolio includes real estate investment and development to offset the cost of operating passenger rail services. These projects signify a collaborative commitment to improving transportation and infrastructure in South Africa.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting in Cape Town focused on creating a more robust, sustainable, and inclusive tourism sector through intraBRICS tourism. Highranking representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, and China worked together to encourage inclusive tourism growth by creating innovative travel packages, employing joint marketing tactics, and tackling barriers impeding growth. The meeting emphasized the need for cooperation in critical areas such as sustainable policies and practices, ecofriendly business models, and reevaluating perceptions of tourism success.
Good news for SASSA Gold Card beneficiaries: Postbank has confirmed the extended validity of the cards for grant payments beyond December 2023. This means that beneficiaries can continue accessing their funds securely and conveniently without having to switch to other banks’ cards, saving them time and expenses. SASSA beneficiaries should disregard any misinformation suggesting that they must switch to other card products due to the expiration of SASSA gold cards, as Postbank is the sole bank authorized to replace these cards.
Sea Point is a vibrant and multicultural neighborhood in Cape Town that has been recognized as the most captivating neighborhood in South Africa and the highestranking in Africa by TimeOut’s annual ranking of the world’s most magnetic neighborhoods. With its fivekilometer coastal promenade, public gardens, Jewish community, and alluring charm, Sea Point attracts young professionals, panAfrican migrants, and remote workers. The neighborhood has a thriving community and social scene, with access to green spaces and a growing café culture that contributes to its distinctiveness and allure.
South Africa is gearing up to host the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in November 2023, gathering government officials, business leaders, and industry experts from across Africa and the United States to discuss trade, investment, and economic development. The AGOA Forum is an initiative by the United States to offer eligible SubSaharan African countries preferential access to the US market, and South Africa’s hosting of the event highlights the nation’s dedication to economic growth and global integration. Minister Ebrahim Patel’s media briefing on October 26 will provide an update on the country’s preparedness for the forum and offer insights into the upcoming program.
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Education report on South Africa’s education system has faced criticism for being weak, misleading, and onesided. The report’s limited methodology, failure to engage with current government activities, exclusion of language issues, and reliance on outdated and flawed data all contribute to a weak and unhelpful understanding of the challenges and progress made in South Africa’s education sector. The Department of Basic Education has expressed disappointment in the report and called for a more comprehensive and accurate approach to analyzing the education system.
PRASA, South Africa’s Passenger Rail Agency, is revolutionizing the country’s railways by launching two major development projects aimed at enhancing living conditions and providing affordable housing. The Goodwood Station Social Housing initiative aims to deliver over a thousand affordable rental units by October 2023, while the Cape Town Station development will offer 3,200 beds for students and a revamped retail precinct. PRASA’s diversified portfolio includes real estate investment and development to offset the cost of operating passenger rail services. These projects signify a collaborative commitment to improving transportation and infrastructure in South Africa.
Angela Yeung, a Johannesburg entrepreneur and social activist, has been raising awareness about genderbased violence (GBV) in South Africa through her daring mountain expeditions. Her latest venture involved climbing Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighthhighest peak in the Himalayas, and displaying 6,200 bras at Constitution Hill to symbolize the widespread issue of GBV.
MasterChef Australia has revamped its judging panel, welcoming Poh Ling Yeow, JeanChristophe Novelli, and Sofia Levin to join Andy Allen. Poh Ling Yeow, a runnerup in season one, brings a diverse range of talents to the show, while JeanChristophe Novelli’s extensive experience in classic French cuisine is sure to raise the bar for excellence in the MasterChef kitchen. Food writer Sofia Levin’s perceptive insights will enrich the show’s discourse. The trio will inject the show with a new dimension of energy and creativity, promising an innovative approach to the established framework.
The accusation that South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi used a racial slur during the Rugby World Cup semifinal match against England has caused a stir in the rugby world. Tom Curry claimed Mbonambi called him a “white ct,” which has been caught on audio and is currently being investigated by World Rugby. Some South African supporters suggest that Mbonambi’s words may have been misconstrued as he was using Afrikaans, one of the country’s official languages, to communicate strategies on the field. This incident raises important questions about language and cultural differences in sports and the responsibility of organizations to address these matters with care.
Athlone is revamping its water infrastructure by replacing outdated water mains with new uPVC pipes as part of its yearly pipe replacement program. The project aims to provide a reliable water supply in the long term and has allocated a significant amount of funds for water and sewer pipe replacement programs. Upgrades to the pipes in the Bridgetown suburb involve replacing outdated, fibre cement water mains with new 110mm diameter pipes that conform to compliance standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards. The initiative showcases the city’s commitment to sustainable development and the wellbeing of its citizens.
Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) Directorate has introduced a new antilitter mascot called Bingo to combat littering. Bingo’s aim is to increase children’s awareness of the harmful effects of littering and illegal dumping through fun and educational approaches. Bingo has already visited several schools across Cape Town, and the UWM team hopes that the mascot’s engaging presence will inspire children to become more responsible and environmentally aware individuals, fostering a sustainable environment for future generations.
Cape Town’s tourism industry could become a yearround attraction if it introduced a remote work visa. Reports from US incentive programs reveal digital nomads generate almost $20 million in added local GDP. To prepare for the arrival of remote workers, Cape Town Tourism has teamed up with Airbnb to develop a hub featuring essential information on visa regulations and longterm listings.
