The City has clarified recent media reports that claimed it plans to double the municipal rates on properties that are rented out for short durations, including those listed on Airbnb and Booking.com. The City has denied that this is a new tax, but that all short-term letting premises are already required to pay commercial property rates under the City’s existing Rates Policy. To improve compliance, a draft Short-Term Letting By-Law will go
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has renewed his calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to devolve more policing powers for City police to investigate gang, gun, and drug crime. This comes ahead of the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday. The Mayor further called on the president to end delays in granting additional policing powers to City police to help the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says it has made significant progress in placing learners who were left unplaced at the start of the 2026 academic year. The department says since the start of January, it has successfully placed 26 312 learners in Grades R, 1, and 8 across the province, in addition to the tens of thousands of learners placed during 2025. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says despite placing 96% of
Another fatal attack involving a Pit Bull has sparked renewed debate about stricter regulations for the breed and the role of responsible ownership. This comes after the death in hospital of 44-year-old Mitchells Plain resident Faziela Swartz on 3 February, after she was attacked by her son’s Pit Bull in the backyard of her home in Morgenster, on 28 January. A video of the gruesome incident was widely shared. While two dogs
Multiple areas across the Western Cape have been left without electricity as severe weather hits the province. This follows warnings by the South African Weather Service of severe thunderstorms, with heavy rain, hail and possible flooding, over Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the Overberg regions for Monday. As a result, Eskom confirmed that customers in various parts of the region are currently experiencing power outages. Among the affected locations are parts of Khayelitsha, Tafelbaai (including Cape Town Harbour, Metrorail and the Foreshore), Nomzamo in Strand, as well as various areas in
