Cape Town is fighting a new South African law that takes away local control over buying goods and services, which the city says could slow down urgent actions like emergency supplies. The city’s leaders worry this law will make it harder to respond quickly in crises and weaken democracy by centralizing power in the national government. Cape Town’s bold move to bring the case straight to the Constitutional Court shows how serious the issue is, as it could shape the future balance between national rules and local freedom. Many people are watching closely, knowing this decision will affect not just Cape Town but the whole country’s way of governing.