Western Cape exports have increased over the past few years and plans are afoot to let this number grow even more. That’s according to Wesgro, the tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander says exports in the Province have increased from R160.9 billion in 2021 to R219.7 billion in 2025. She says this highlights the province’s growing weight in the South Africa’s export landscape.

Exports: Made in the Cape Brings Global Buyers to Cape Town and the Western Cape

Wesgro also recently hosted its flagship international buyers programme, #MadeInTheCape. This brought global procurement leaders and Western Cape exporters together, for a focused week of trade engagement. She says 34 international buyers from 17 countries engaged with over 230 Western Cape exporters during the week. Stander added that since 2023, 13 trade deals were signed. She added that further transactions in the pipeline. Stander elaborated that over 400 structured business-to-business meetings were hosted in the Cape.

Deepening Export Growth

At the recent gathering, Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, placed an emphasis on the strategic importance of export-led growth. He also said that the programme opens doors for global buyers to the unmatched quality, creativity and reliability of Western Cape products and services. Meyer added that export growth, investment attraction and private sector expansion are the engines of sustainable job creation. He said that jobs come from globally competitive businesses. These are businesses that can scale beyond local borders.

“We are opening doors, doors that connect our local businesses to global opportunities,” said Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer.

Buyers programme connects 230 export-ready businesses with international decision-makers

At the same time, The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, said that export growth remains central to the City’s economic agenda. He also said the benefits of export success extend beyond individual firms. Vos elaborated that when a local manufacturer secures an export order, it strengthens an entire value chain. This supports production, logistics, packaging, compliance and distribution. Vos stressed that the impact extends well beyond a single company.

“Businesses that access external markets tend to grow faster and become more resilient,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos.

Resilient exports

A welcome ceremony was held in the week, at the Royal Cape Yacht Club. The Managing Director of DHL Express South Africa, Herman Venter at this event, highlighted the role of SMEs. Venter believes that when SMEs grow, local and regional economies also show growth. He added that when economies expand, jobs are created, communities stabilize and prosper. Furthermore, when communities stabilize, economies become more resilient.

“SMEs remain the backbone of most economies around the world,” said the Managing Director of DHL Express South Africa, Herman Venter at this event, highlighted the role of SMEs.

Export-ready businesses

The programme, held recently, connected 34 international buyers from 17 countries with more than 230 export-ready businesses. It took place against a steady rise in provincial trade performance. According to Wesgro, companies represented priority sectors including manufacturing, design, film and agri-processing. Stander said that strengthening trade requires sustained collaboration.

Where did the buyers hail from:

Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, India, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, United States, Canada, Austria, and United Kingdom. This includes 19 new and 15 returning partners.

Returning buyers included leading retail and tourism players from India, the Middle East, Kenya, and China.

New participants featured major names across film, wine importation, fresh produce, large-scale distribution, and food supply – reflecting strong and growing international demand across diverse sectors.

According to a statement: “Complementing the in-person programme is Wesgro’s Cape Trade Portal, a digital marketplace linking 1,290 verified exporters with 8,399 products and services, and 761 registered international buyers across 80 countries. Recently enhanced to improve functionality and user experience, the platform enables sustained engagement long after the hosted meetings conclude.”

The City of Cape Town has announced that it has terminated all contracts held by a contractor, Triple C Maintenance and Services, after the owner of the business, Shaun Roos, allegedly attempted to bribe City Manager, Lungelo Mbandazayo.

These contracts are mostly construction-related, and include road maintenance, resurfacing and stormwater infrastructure.

The company was previously involved in issues regarding subcontractor payments for city construction projects in 2025.

On 3 March 2026, Mbandazayo acted as an agent for the SAPS to carry out an undercover sting operation, which led to Roos’s arrest.

The sting took place at Waterstone Village in Somerset West, during which Roos allegedly handed the City Manager R1,4 million in cash.

The City says the payment was purportedly offered as a bribe in exchange for assistance in retaining the vendor’s contracts with the City and the halting of internal City investigations, the nature of which has not been revealed.

The sting on 3 March was preceded by an operation on 26 February, at the Table Bay Mall, Sunningdale, where Roos approached the City Manager and requested his assistance.

Roos initially offered Mbandayazo R4 million and committed to an initial payment of R2 million in cash.

Mbandazayo has been praised for his bravery, as Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis lauded him for his leadership.

Hill-Lewis says as investigations continue, additional arrests of alleged accomplices are anticipated.

The City says this arrest was the culmination of a joint investigative process between the police and the City, which began in March 2025, following a whistleblower’s tip-off.

The City has emphasised that corruption will not be tolerated in any form and that any attempts to “improperly influence municipal officials will be met with firm and decisive action.”

Roos was due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court again today, 12 March 2026, on corruption charges.

Concerns have been raised about learner dignity after a viral video showed a Grade 1 learner being humiliated by an educator over a school fundraising contribution. The teacher has since been suspended following outrage from the George community.

In the video, the rest of the class is seen eating pies and drinking cooldrink while a little boy covers his face as the teacher mocks him and instructs the rest of the class not to share with him. The teacher is also heard saying she cannot help it if the child’s mother did not contribute.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) stressed that the conduct of the educator was not on par with the department’s standards. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the learner and his family have been offered counselling support.

Hammond further added that the department remains committed to ensuring that learners are treated with dignity at all times and that professional conduct is upheld.

“The WCED is aware of a disturbing viral video showing a Grade 1 learner filmed in class and portrayed as the only child who has not received a fundraising item. While the teacher later provided the learner with the item, the way in which this was handled is entirely inappropriate. The WCED has temporarily suspended the teacher pending a formal investigation.”

Following a protest outside the school yesterday, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has called for calm in the area so that the matter can be dealt with through proper legal and administrative processes.

SADTU’s spokesperson Nomusa Cembi says the Union strongly condemned the incident and will ensure that the education department follows due process in investigating the matter and taking the necessary steps in line with applicable labour and professional regulations.

“While we defend the rights of educators, we equally believe that professionalism, care, and respect for the dignity of learners must always guide the conduct of educators.”

A stabbing incident at a school in Durbanville is the subject of a disciplinary and criminal investigation.  

According to reports, the victim is a 13-year-old learner attending a primary school in the Morningstar area of Durbanville. The learner was allegedly stabbed during the incident on 23 February. 

A spokesperson for Western Cape Education Department, Bronagh Hammond confirmed that it is aware of the incident, noting that the learner was “injured with a sharp object”.  

“Staff responded immediately, provided first aid, and took the learner to two local day hospitals for further medical care,” said Hammond.  

Hammond further noted that the family was immediately informed. 

Hereafter, a disciplinary process ensued with the school governing body (SGB), which is still ongoing, said Hammond. 

“The outcome is still pending.” 

A criminal investigation followed, with Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Wesley Twigg, confirming that a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was registered.  

“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under [investigation] and no arrests have been made yet,” said Twigg.  

Hammond added that the school is cooperating with the police investigation.  

She further advised that an implicated learner has been suspended.