There will be free weekend parking at some Waterfront parking garages starting in May. This is because the V&A Waterfront will resume its major infrastructure programme from the middle of this month to replace ageing water and sewer pipelines. The work will conclude by the end of November this year.

There will be free weekend parking at some Waterfront parking garages starting in May

The free parking will only be available from the start of next month until the end of October and only at weekends. The V&A Waterfront says the work to replace ageing water and sewer pipelines is an essential investment to support long-term growth, service reliability and sustainability across the precinct.

Parking and access alternatives

Visitors are encouraged to make use of alternative parking and access options, including:

-> Silo and Clock Tower parking garages, which will be free on weekends from the start of May to the end of October.

-> Battery Park parking garage, which will remain free to the public on weekends.

-> Access the Waterfront via Helen Suzman Boulevard at Portswood Road, as well as Granger Bay Boulevard, for parking closer to the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

Traffic and pedestrian access

Access throughout the construction period:

• On Dock Road, two outgoing traffic lanes and one incoming lane will remain open.

• Traffic marshals and clearly marked signage will be positioned at affected points to assist traffic flow and ensure pedestrian safety.

An essential infrastructure upgrade is underway

People are reminded that the Waterfront will remain open and fully operational during this time. Retailers, restaurants and other attractions will continue to welcome visitors. According to a statement, most of the construction activity will be focused on sections of Dock Road. This is adjacent to The Watershed and the Two Oceans Aquarium. It extends up to Ebenezer Circle and then down to the Astron garage intersection.

Waterfront remains open

At this stage, visitors to the area can expect work including excavation, trenching and road reinstatement. The work will commence from the middle of April. It will take place over about 33 weeks. It will be carried out in carefully managed phases to minimise disruption. 

As the South African Police continue their relentless fight to rid communities of illegal firearms and confront the deep-rooted scourge of gang-related crime, a 33-year-old alleged gang leader was arrested in Ravensmead yesterday.

Members of SAPS, during Operation Lockdown III, arrested the suspect for the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk says several weapons were seized during the operation.

“The team seized an R5 rifle, a shotgun, three pistols, more than 160 rounds of ammunition, and several magazines. Four out of the five illegal firearms’ serial numbers were filed off.”

Van Wyk says further investigations were carried out, which led to more items being seized.

“Acting swiftly, the team operationalised intelligence on the suspect, who allegedly controlled the gang’s firearms. The team proceeded to the identified address, where the suspect led them to a cache of firearms and ammunition concealed near a block of flats in Ravensmead.”

Investigations have now been launched to determine whether the seized items were used in the commission of other serious and violent crimes.

The 33-year-old is due to appear before the Parow Magistrates’ Court soon, while investigations continue.

Two teenagers have died in separate incidents of violence in Cape Town this past weekend.  

On Saturday, three victims, including a 16-year-old, a 17-year-old, and a 25-year-old, were stabbed when two suspects attempted to rob them on the corner of Malva and Petunia Streets in Uitsig.  

The police’s Ndakhe Gwala said the incident took place around 18:15. 

“One of the suspects stabbed the victims and the 17-year-old succumbed to the injuries,” said Gwala. 

Gwala confirmed that two suspects have since been arrested and are making their first court appearance at the Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Monday. They are facing murder and attempted murder charges.  

A day before this incident, another 17-year-old was killed in Mitchells Plain. The teenager was shot in Morgan Village.  

“A shooting occurred at Glenside Road, Morgan Village on Friday 17 April 2026 at about 21:00, resulting in the demise of a 17-year-old male.” 

Gwala said the victim died after being transported to a medical facility.  

The circumstances of this incident are still being investigated, and there’s no clarity on the motive as yet. No arrests have been made either.  

ALSO READ: Western Cape gangs growing more complex & difficult to police – Smile 90.4FM

US President Donald Trump has once again falsely described attacks on white farmers in South Africa as “genocide” during a rally in Phoenix.

Speaking at an event hosted by Turning Point USA, Trump said his administration had prioritised refugee resettlement for white South Africans, alleging widespread persecution. According to figures cited at the rally, nearly 4,500 South Africans had reportedly been admitted under a broader refugee cap of 7,500 for the fiscal year.

Trump told supporters that violence targeting white farmers amounted to a systematic campaign, stating that “they kill people if they’re white,” a claim that the South African government and independent analysts have long disputed.

Trump: We suspended all refugee resettlement, except for persecuted South Africans. There’s a very horrible thing going on in South Africa. It’s a genocide. They kill people if they’re white. If you’re a white person. I did great with the black vote, the African American vote,… pic.twitter.com/DXunfnjQnV

— Acyn (@Acyn) April 17, 2026

This is not the first time Trump has advanced the claim. He has repeatedly promoted the narrative of a so-called “white genocide”, including during Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House in May 2025, where Ramaphosa was confronted with videos and images, many of which were later found not to originate in South Africa.

READ: Trump’s misleading white genocide claims debunked

The claim has also been challenged by international media. A recent report by the U.S. programme 60 Minutes found no evidence to support allegations of a coordinated campaign against white farmers. Journalist Anderson Cooper reported that there is no proof of systematic, state-sponsored genocide targeting white South Africans.

Advocacy groups such as AfriForum have frequently raised concerns about farm attacks, pointing to dozens of murders reported annually and describing the violence as particularly brutal. However, critics argue that such claims lack broader context and risk distorting South Africa’s crime realities.

Official statistics show that farm murders account for a small fraction of the country’s overall murder rate. With roughly 27,000 murders recorded annually, experts note that violent crime in South Africa affects people across all racial and socio-economic groups, with the majority of victims being black South Africans.

The latest Crime Statistics,  between October and December 2025, show 7 murders of individuals linked to a farming community, of which 4 were farmers.

Trump’s comments drew sharp criticism from senior political figures. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula accused Trump of promoting “distortion and disinformation,” arguing that such rhetoric reinforces harmful racial stereotypes.

The subtle message that Trump is saying, is that black people are savages who kill with impunity. The racist trope that we uncivilised and animal-like as race is what Afriforum has peddled and now Trump is reinforcing in his messaging. The world is on our side in pushing back… https://t.co/ClMLmoZvPB

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) April 18, 2026

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya also pushed back, emphasising South Africa’s commitment to confronting its past while shaping a unified future. He rejected claims of genocide, describing them as misleading and not reflective of the country’s reality.

Mr President, please watch this👇 pic.twitter.com/1ZnURlQN3B

— I am a South African 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 (@hodmudau) April 18, 2026

And the Whites love it here. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/scr4De4kVA

— 2me (@TumiTemo) April 18, 2026

https://t.co/hO3YcuIIt9

Wow look at all this white genocide…

Absolutely terrible!

Maybe you and orange man must stop smoking that stuff thats frying your brains too….

— Anver A (@MPower330) April 18, 2026

ALSO READ: Violent crime and the myth of South Africa’s ‘white genocide’

New regulations may bring a little more peace to the average South African consumer, with amendments to the Consumer Protection Act now aimed at curbing unwanted spam calls. 

The amendments, gazetted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition last week, include the establishment of an “Opt Out Registry”, which will allow consumers to block unwanted marketing calls. from a specific company or from an entire industry. 

The National Consumer Commission (NCC), which welcomed the changes, said the move would give consumers stronger protection against intrusive direct marketing. 

“For too long, consumers have been exposed to intrusive and unwanted direct marketing communication. The Regulations provide for a robust mechanism to stem unwanted calls to ensure that consumers are protected,” said the NCC’s Acting Commissioner, Hardin Ratshisusu. 

In terms of the new rules, all direct marketers in South Africa will be required to register, and they will also need to update their marketing lists before contacting consumers, removing the details of anyone who has opted out through the registry. 

The NCC will act as the administrator of the new registry system. 

“The Regulations also stipulate the registration, renewal and cleansing (deduping) fees, among other requirements,” read the NCC’s statement.  

Registration for both direct marketers and consumers is expected to begin in July 2026. The NCC said it would communicate the registration process and requirements ahead of time. 

Meanwhile, companies that fail to comply with the regulations could face steep penalties, such as an administrative fine of up to R1 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever amount is greater.