The City of Cape Town is revamping the road infrastructure in Camps Bay and Bakoven to ensure a smoother and more pleasurable journey for both locals and tourists. The project will involve resurfacing several roads in the region until 10 November 2023 as part of the city’s wider initiative to prioritize urban mobility and enhance the overall quality of life for its inhabitants. Road users are advised to consider alternative routes during the construction period to avoid traffic jams and delays while also reducing the strain on affected roads.

In Cape Town, there are 13 Champion Trees that hold immense historical and ecological significance. Sadly, one of these giants, a 80100 year old Turkish oak, fell in October due to factors such as rainfall and heart rot. This event marks the second loss of a Champion Tree in two years, emphasizing the need to protect these natural wonders under the National Forests Act of 1998. Despite the loss, the fallen oak will be repurposed to continue contributing to the beauty and sustainability of Arderne Gardens.

South Africa has performed its firstever MitraClip implantation surgeries, a minimally invasive alternative to openheart surgery for patients with mitral regurgitation. Five patients underwent the innovative procedure in a collaboration between Tygerberg Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital in the Western Cape. The specialist team overcame years of careful planning and training to achieve the groundbreaking surgeries, which are less invasive and offer a quicker recovery time than conventional treatments. This development represents a new era for South African medicine and offers hope to patients suffering from mitral regurgitation.

Waste collection services are back to their normal schedule in Cape Town suburbs after disruptions caused by threats to collection staff. The City’s Urban Waste Management Directorate took measures to protect staff and resume services in affected areas. The City stressed the importance of safety for its waste management staff and reminded residents of the 24/7 tipoff line available to share information leading to successful arrests or stolen goods’ retrieval.

The Carol Ferreira case highlights the importance of public oversight in defending vulnerable animals, following her conviction on animal cruelty charges. The case centers around a dog named Spud, who was found severely emaciated and with a maggotinfested wound. Spud’s tragic story serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing education and awareness initiatives to prevent animal abuse, promote responsible pet ownership, and foster a culture of empathy and compassion towards all living beings.

Western Cape schools and districts achieved outstanding results at the National Education Excellence Awards, with Rustenburg Girls’ High School winning the title of top Quintile 5 school in the country. Steilhoogte Primêre Skool was recognized as the second most improved fullservice school in the nation, while Thomas Wildschutt Primary School and Crestway Secondary School were awarded for their work in health promotion. The Western Cape Education Department also received a Special Ministerial Award for achieving the secondhighest number of Bachelor passes over a fiveyear period. These achievements are a result of the collective effort of students, teachers, officials, and school stakeholders in offering quality education for every learner in the Western Cape.

South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order to halt the payout of R2 million in pension benefits to a former health official accused of involvement in the irregular procurement of contracts related to Covid19. The SIU’s investigation found that the official, Tshegofatso Daniel Moralo, failed to comply with procurement regulations and did not prevent irregular expenditure. The SIU’s actions serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public sector procurement, and highlight the potential for successful collaboration between state institutions and investigative bodies.