the ultimate mother city guide
Cape Town News
Madame Zingara is a magical, lively show and dining experience in Cape Town, held inside a beautiful old mirrored tent. It mixes circus, cabaret, and bold food to create a night full of surprises, music, and wonder where guests become part of the fun. More than just a restaurant, it brings people together to share joy and stories under sparkling mirrors. After a pause, Madame Zingara is returning, ready to light up Cape Town nights once again with its wild, playful spirit. It’s a place where fantasy and reality dance together, inviting everyone to dream big and celebrate life.
The Democratic Alliance’s plan for South Africa’s economic renewal is bold and clear. They want to fix the energy crisis so the lights stay on, change job rules to reward skill over race, and invest in better roads, ports, and internet. They also promise cleaner, honest local governments and tougher action against crime and corruption. Their goal is to create more jobs, grow the economy, and build hope for a brighter future where everyone has a fair chance to succeed.
Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard is buzzing with a new wave of luxury living. People from South Africa and around the world are snapping up sleek, secure apartments with stunning ocean and mountain views, drawn by a stylish, easy “lockandleave” lifestyle. This vibrant coastal stretch mixes natural beauty with lively city life, making it a hotspot for culture and investment. Prices are soaring as homes become scarcer, turning the area into a shining example of modern, upscale living by the sea.
Dontse Yakhe, a small, lively settlement near Cape Town, has long lived in the dark, relying on dangerous candles and open flames. In 2025, 170 homes finally got connected to safe and steady electricity, changing life for the better. Now, children can study under bright lights, families keep food fresh, and local businesses grow. This simple glow brings hope, safety, and pride to a community that never gave up. It’s more than just power it’s a spark of new life and promise.
The Growthpoint SA Squash Nationals is South Africa’s biggest junior squash tournament, shining a spotlight on the country’s best young players. This year, the event takes place at Makers Landing in Cape Town, a lively and creative space that mixes sport with culture and community. The allglass squash court makes the matches exciting to watch, while visitors enjoy food stalls and a festivallike atmosphere. This fresh setting not only shows off top athletic skill but also brings people together, celebrating growth, innovation, and the spirit of the game.
Steenhuis in Upper Constantia is a beautiful home that mixes old Cape Dutch style with smart, ecofriendly living. It has solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and organic gardens, making luxury and nature work together perfectly. Surrounded by tall oaks and vineyards, the estate feels peaceful and rooted in history, yet embraces modern technology to protect the environment. With spaces for relaxing and growing food, Steenhuis shows how luxury today means caring for the planet while enjoying elegant comfort. It’s a bright example of how tradition and green living can live side by side.
South Africa’s richest people, like Johann Rupert, Nicky Oppenheimer, Koos Bekker, and Patrice Motsepe, have made their billions in areas like luxury goods, mining, technology, and banking. Their fortunes tell a story of hard work, smart risks, and deep ties to the country’s history, including its struggles and hopes. While they build businesses and support causes like conservation and economic empowerment, their wealth also highlights South Africa’s big gap between rich and poor. These billionaires shape the nation’s future but also remind us of the challenges still to be solved.
South Africa’s apple and pear industry is in trouble because the Port of Cape Town is facing big delays, slowing down shipments and causing extra costs. Cranes work slowly, refrigerated containers pile up with fees, and ships sometimes skip the port, all hurting farmers and workers. This chaos risks losing important markets in Europe and Asia and threatens many jobs in the Western Cape. Industry leaders and officials are pushing for quick fixes and longterm solutions to save this vital fruit export business. The future depends on faster, smarter port operations to keep South African fruit on shelves worldwide.
Pharmaceutical pollution in Hout Bay is quietly harming the ocean and its creatures. Chemicals from everyday medicines and personal care products sneak into the water, building up inside shellfish and upsetting the delicate balance of marine life. This invisible pollution not only threatens sea animals but also risks human health by spreading drugresistant bacteria. Without better wastewater treatment and cleaner habits, the sparkling beauty of Hout Bay’s waters could fade, turning this vibrant bay into a warning of what happens when nature is ignored.
South African nightlife is changing fast as young people turn to virtual reality and online spaces instead of traditional clubs. Virtual festivals and VR hangouts let people enjoy music and meet others safely from home, even connecting fans worldwide. While old clubs close, new digital venues are opening up exciting ways to party, blending real and virtual worlds. This fresh nightlife keeps the spirit of music and community alive, showing how South Africa is dreaming up a new kind of afterdark fun.
Starting September 2, 2025, South Africa’s SASSA OldAge Grants will arrive earlier and offer more ways for seniors to collect their money, easing their monthly worries. The government has raised the income and asset limits, so more older people can qualify, while also tightening rules to stop fraud and wrongful deductions. These changes help ensure seniors get their support on time, with fairness and protection, making life a bit easier and more secure for those who have given so much.
Starlink promises to bring fast satellite internet to Africa, sparking hope for better connections in remote areas. But high costs, tricky rules like South Africa’s ownership laws and spotty service have made the journey tough. In Kenya, many found Starlink too expensive and unreliable, while in South Africa, strict regulations blocked official access, pushing some users to risky workarounds. Despite these hurdles, the strong demand for better internet shows that Starlink’s dream is still alive, needing smart local solutions to truly succeed.
The NSFAS student housing crisis in South Africa is causing real pain for students, with delayed payments risking evictions and interrupting their studies. The DA is pushing hard for a clear, public legal review to hold NSFAS accountable and fix these problems. Many students live in fear, unsure if they’ll have a safe place to stay, while officials keep promises but offer little real change. This struggle shows how vital honest action is to protect students’ right to both education and shelter.
In Cape Town, clever wild baboons roam both the mountains and city streets, often causing trouble by raiding homes and gardens. To live peacefully with them, the city uses baboon rangers, gentle deterrents like paintball guns, and even tries birth control to keep their numbers steady. People share their thoughts in public meetings, helping shape fair and kind plans for both humans and baboons. This careful balance shows how nature and city life can mix, teaching us to respect wild neighbors right on our doorsteps.
Schalk Burger Sr., once a fierce rugby star turned passionate winemaker, recently faced legal trouble for not filing important tax returns for over ten years. Despite his success on the rugby field and in the vineyards, he was fined R56,000 to settle the case, showing that no one is above the rules. His family’s story reminds us that running a business means more than passion it demands careful attention to everyday responsibilities. In the end, their journey is about learning, growing, and facing challenges with honesty and strength.
Minister Thembi Simelane is leading South Africa’s home building sector with a bold vision for change. She pushes for fairness by including women, youth, and people with disabilities, while making sure homes are safe and built well. After a tragic building collapse, she acted quickly to hold people accountable and rebuild trust. Her goal is clear: create homes that give everyone dignity and build a future where all South Africans can thrive.
