The City of Cape Town says intensified highway patrols and safety interventions helped reduce serious accidents on major routes during the 2025/26 festive season, with a notable decline recorded on the N2.
City data shows that only nine serious incidents were reported on the N2 over the festive period, compared to 18 during the same period in 2024.
For more than a decade, the City has steadily increased its presence on major highways through the deployment of Metro Police, the Traffic Service’s Highway Patrol Unit, and the Ghost Squad. This was further strengthened by the recent addition of 37 Metro Police officers deployed around Cape Town International Airport and surrounding routes, which experience high traffic volumes during peak travel periods.
Since July 2025, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) has logged 8,552 calls for assistance on major highways. The majority of these incidents involved mechanical breakdowns, flat tyres, and vehicles running out of fuel, while just 86 cases, were crime-related.
City agencies also made 148 arrests as part of highway patrol operations. Among the most recent were two arrests on 8 January, including a suspect detained at the N1/N7 interchange for possession of a dangerous weapon, later linked to multiple house robberies, and another arrested in Montana after allegedly threatening a motorist at gunpoint near the Airport Approach slip road onto the N2.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, says the figures show that road-related incidents remain the primary concern on the City’s highways.
“The data shows that mechanical breakdowns and vehicle-related faults are what our officers attend to most, to assist and protect motorists. Attacks make up only a fraction of incidents reported through official channels.”
He urged the public to report all incidents through official platforms to ensure accurate records and swift response.
“There have been numerous reports of attacks on social media, but it’s important that incidents are reported to SAPS and the Public Emergency Communication Centre so that there is a proper record and an appropriate response.”
The City says many incidents are detected even without a call for assistance, thanks to CCTV monitoring. Between 1 September 2024 and 11 January 2026, 2,895 motorists were assisted on the N2 between Langa and Firgrove, with 1,061 incidents detected by CCTV operators who dispatched help immediately.
Bishop Lavis police are investigating a horrific triple murder following a deadly shooting in Valhalla Park. The latest casualty, an 18-year-old man, tragically died yesterday, becoming the third victim of a violent attack.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that the shooting occurred on Saturday in Paulus Street, where a 41-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man were killed instantly at the scene.
“The motive for the shooting remains unknown and no arrests have been made. Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.”
The Bishop Lavis Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson, Amanda Davids, revealed the depth of the loss: the female victim was the mother of the 18-year-old man who later died from his injuries.
“We condemn this incident. It is unimaginable for a family to lose both a mother and her son in such a brutal way. To the families, we extend our deepest condolences. This is a tragedy that no family should ever have to endure.”
There’s a lineup of exciting sports, cultural and lifestyle events to end off the month of January in Cape Town. Residents are reminded that several events will be taking place this week in the Mother City, but also the weekend and beyond. Please prepare for various roads to be affected.
“Cape Town has kicked off the new year with a lively mix of events, from the iconic minstrel parade to thrilling rugby and cricket action, as well as open-air theatre.”
There’s a lineup of exciting sports, cultural and lifestyle events
Cape Town City FC
The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says Cape Town City will play their first home game of the year against the University of Pretoria at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday, 27 January. He says the Citizens, who have won 6 of their last 8 matches in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, will be looking to continue their climb up the league table.
Images of previous events
Smith added that the home team won 3 – 0 against AmaTuks the last time the two teams met in Pretoria in November. He says the matchday 16 showdown is scheduled for a 15:30 kick-off, with gates set to open at 13:30. To watch the game is free and spectators can get free tickets through Webtickets.
SPAR Cape Town Ramadan and Lifestyle Expo
You can also look forward to the Cape Town Ramadan and Lifestyle Expo. This event will be held at the Green Point A-Track from Friday, 30 January until Sunday, 1 February 2026. Smith says the three-day event showcases a mix of culture, lifestyle, gourmet delights, and SMME development.
Images of previous events
There will be over 100 exhibitors, an interactive cooking theatre and a couture emporium. You can also expect entertainment and prizes galore. Smith says the Ramadan and Lifestyle Expo will be held at the start of Ramadan next month. It will run from 15:00 until 21:00 on Friday. On Saturday, it will start at 09:00 and end at 21:00. It will also close at 19:00 on Sunday.
“Tickets for the expo start from R35 for adults, R20 for pensioners and children under 10 enter for free. Patrons are advised that there will be no parking at the Green Point A-Track for the public. Parking will be made available at P12, P13 and P14 on Green Point Main Road as well as P4, P6 on Vlei Road and P9 on Bill Peters Drive. “
“The coming week continues this strong start to 2026, and the excitement grows as the year unfolds and several standout showpieces take centre stage in the months ahead.”
World Sports Betting Cape Town Met
Smith says to close off an exciting month of events, the City is partnering with Race Coast for the Cape Town Met. This is the Mother City’s premier horse racing and lifestyle event. He says the 164th running of the Cape Town Met takes place at Kenilworth Racecourse this Saturday, 31 January 2026. You can expect a day where elite horse racing meets style. The official theme is Symphony of Style.
“Symphony of Style is a beautifully rich and imaginative experience where horse racing, fashion, music, and movement harmonise like instruments in a magnificent orchestra.”
Citizens are being advised of possible traffic interruptions in the Kenilworth and Lansdowne areas due to the event.
There will be no stopping allowed on the following roads from 05:00 until midnight:
Street
Between
Doncaster Road
Rosemead Ave
Loch Rd
Rosemead Ave
Doncaster Rd
Wetton Rd
Wetton Rd
Rosemead Ave
Goldbourne Rd
Kenilworth Rd
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Sherwood Ave
Kenilworth Rd
Rosemead Ave
Ritchie Ave
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Pearson Ave
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Ascot Rd
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Bray Rd
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Wargrave Rd
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Putney Rd
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Bathurst Rd
Goldbourne Rd
Rosemead Ave
Country Club Rd
Wetton Rd
Bathurst Rd
IMAGE: Race Coast
There will be lane restrictions on:
Street
Lane
Road Restrictions
Wetton Road (Wetton Gate Entrance)
Left Lane
Left lane to merge with the right lane. The merge will be an 80m taper with a 100m run off
Wetton Road (East Parking Entrance)
Left Lane
Left lane to merge with the right lane. The merge will be a 50m taper with a 50m run off
The event organiser has made available parking for event attendees at the Chukker Road Sports Ground. This is to mitigate the impact on traffic. There will also be a dedicated shuttle to transport attendees from Chukker Road to the racetrack and back after the event.
“This is welcome news, not only for event lovers, but also for the thousands of people who rely on events to earn a living.”
Maynardville Open-Air Festival
The Maynardville Open Air Festival, which kicked off its two-month run two weeks ago, continues this week at the Maynardville Theatre in Wynberg.
The festival, one of Cape Town’s oldest theatre traditions, is celebrating its 70th anniversary, running until 8 March 2026.
Its programme also includes the soul-stirring melodies of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Tour de Tchaikovsky, a Chamber Music Concert, a powerful performance by Cape Town Opera, and a delightful musical experience celebrating the 95th anniversary of one of the Musical Theatre’s most prolific writers, Sunday in the Park with Sondheim.
Inner City Saturdays returns on Saturday, 31 January, with a refreshed programme that goes beyond retail and culture, introducing immersive, nature-led experiences in the Company’s Garden.
Led by The Mission for Inner City Cape Town, Inner City Saturdays is a monthly initiative that reimagines Cape Town’s inner city as a walkable, welcoming, and shared public space.
The January edition brings a curated line-up of guided walks and community activities in the Company’s Garden, highlighting the role of green urban spaces in creating safer, healthier, and more connected cities.
“These activations show what becomes possible when private funding is invested into public spaces,” says Tim Harris from The Mission for Inner City Cape Town.
“Inner City Saturdays is about bringing people back into the city, activating under-used spaces and reminding Capetonians that the Inner City is not just a place to work, but a place to connect, restore and belong.”
Company’s Garden Programme – Saturday, 31 January 2026
09:00 – 10:00 | Inner City Forest Bathing Start your day with a gentle, sensory walk inspired by Japanese Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku). Tune into nature and restore your mind and body. Meeting point: Japanese lantern, Company’s Garden Hosted by: Forest Therapy Africa & The Mission for Inner City Cape Town
11:00 – 13:00 | Green Squad Connect & Walk An urban greening community meetup, exploring overlooked pockets of greenery and connecting city dwellers with nature. Meeting point: The Vine Coffee Shop, Company’s Garden Route: Ends on Lower Long Street Hosted by: Biomimicry SA, Greenpop, Friends of the Company’s Garden & The Mission for Inner City Cape Town
14:00 – 15:00 | Let the Trees Talk Guided tree walk with landscape architect Clare Burgess, discovering heritage specimens and the future urban canopy of the Company’s Garden. Meeting point: The Vine Coffee Shop Route: Ends on Lower Long Street Hosted by: Treekeepers SA, Friends of the Company’s Garden & The Mission
16:00 – 17:00 | Lettuce Turnip the Beet Explore the historic VOC Vegetable Garden with food gardener Mark Harding, learning about its heritage and role in urban biodiversity. Meeting point & route: The Vine Coffee Shop, Company’s Garden Hosted by: Friends of the Company’s Garden & The Mission
Alongside these nature-led experiences, Inner City Saturdays continues to animate streets, squares, and public spaces across the CBD with retail, cultural activations, and walkable routes that encourage foot traffic and shared city life.
Inner City Saturdays is part of The Mission for Inner City Cape Town’s long-term commitment to revitalising public spaces through collaboration between city stakeholders, corporates, and community partners, demonstrating how private investment can unlock inclusive, accessible, and people-centred environments.
For more information or partnership opportunities, visit www.missionforinnercity.org or follow @missionforinnercity on Instagram and LinkedIn.
By Ken Newport, National Manager of Succession Planning, Capital Legacy
A landmark Constitutional Court ruling on 21 January has brought much-needed clarity to how debt and assets are shared within a marriage, particularly where customary and civil marriages intersect.
The judgment deals with an issue many people misunderstand: how and when spouses can change their matrimonial property regime, and what that means for asset ownership, wills and estate administration.
What did the Constitutional Court decide?
The case involved a couple who first entered into a customary marriage, and later concluded a civil marriage with an antenuptial contract intended to place the marriage out of community of property. When the marriage ended, the validity of that antenuptial contract was challenged on the basis that it effectively stripped the wife of her rights to assets that had been part of the joint estate created by the initial customary marriage.
The Constitutional Court confirmed that:
Entering into a civil marriage does not cancel an existing customary marriage.
Instead, the civil marriage incorporates the customary marriage and its legal consequences.
The financial consequences of a customary marriage cannot be changed later by simply signing an antenuptial contract, unless this is done with proper legal safeguards, including court approval.
In simple terms: You cannot retrospectively change the financial consequences of your marriage without following the correct legal process. This ruling provides important protection, particularly for spouses who may otherwise unknowingly lose their rights to shared assets.
What does this mean for your marriage?
Many couples assume that signing an antenuptial contract at any point will redefine their financial arrangements and protect both parties. This judgment makes it clear that:
Timing matters and antenuptial contracts should be signed before marriage.
If circumstances change after marriage, the law requires judicial oversight to ensure fairness.
This reduces the risk of future disputes and protects both spouses’ interests.
Why this matters for wills and estate planning
From an estate-planning perspective, marital property regimes are critical. Your marital regime determines which assets form part of your estate and what belongs to your spouse. Getting this wrong can lead to delays, disputes and unintended consequences.
When considering marriage: Understanding whether you are marrying in or out of community of property, and how customary marriages are treated, can have lifelong financial consequences.
When drafting a will: Under South African law, your marital regime takes precedence over your will. This means a will must align with the marriage regime, it cannot contradict it.
When winding up an estate: Uncertainty around marital regimes is a common cause of estate delays and family conflict during the estate administration process. So, executors need to establish clear asset ownership at date of death.
The takeaway
Understanding your marriage regime, documenting it correctly, and ensuring your will reflects those arrangements can spare your family significant stress after you pass away.
If your circumstances have changed, or if you are unsure of how your marriage affects your estate, it may be time for a review.
