The City of Cape Town said it will continue its efforts to relocate residents from the SST and Lansdowne Road (LR) informal settlements in Khayelitsha despite challenges that are delaying the repair of sewer infrastructure. 

In November 2025, SmileFM reported that sinkholes began to form under the homes of residents in the SST section of Khayelitsha. Their families living there had built informal structures directly above a sewer line.  

READ MORE: Illegal Structures on sewer lines cause Khayelitsha sinkhols – Smile 90.4FM

Part of the City’s plan to address the issue was to relocate families and then repair the sewer infrastructure, but it was met by resistance from some residents.  

Despite this, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim noted that his department undertook “extensive work over the festive period”, with some residents having relocated as a result.  

“This has resulted in the relocation of multiple residents in the region of 40 to ensure that the Water and Sanitation Department could enter during a difficult time for the sewer collapse,” said Pophaim.

But Pophaim added that the relocation has not been fully completed, with attempts to move some families proving unsuccessful.  

“Currently, a minority of residents has still not relocated, some being out of the city or not accepting the relocation offer,” he said.  

Relocation

GroundUp reported that temporary housing units have been constructed in Green Point, Khayelitsha, for the affected families. However, some residents have reportedly expressed concerns about safety, the size of the temporary units and the loss of belongings following demolitions at the SST and LR sections. 

On 7 January 2026, GroundUP reported that residents protested on Baden Powell Drive to demand that the City rebuild their homes.  

Pophaim noted that sewer repair work nevertheless continues.  

“The Water and Sanitation Department has begun work on the pipeline and will now take forward the repair work required for the broader Khayelitsha community.”  

He said the City will work closely with affected residents to “ensure a smooth transition as the relocation is concluded”. 

A new record in air travel for the festive season has been set in Cape Town and the Western Cape. According to WESGRO, for December 2025 specifically, 1.12 million two-way passengers were recorded at Cape Town International Airport. This reflected an 8% year-on-year increase. According to WESGRO, this represents another record-breaking December for the province.

A new record in air travel for the festive season has been set in Cape Town and the Western Cape

The CEO for WESGRO, Wrenelle Stander, says the other record that is being boasted about is that Cape Town International Airport has recorded a record-breaking 11.1 million two-way passengers (domestic and international) in 2025. This figure has never been achieved in a year. Stander is also the Official Spokesperson of Cape Town Air Access.

Tourism and Trade Investment Promotion Agency

WESGRO is the abbreviation for the Western Cape Tourism, Trade, and Investment Promotion Agency. According to its website, it serves as the official government body for Cape Town and the Western Cape to attract visitors, businesses, and investment, promoting economic growth for the region. She says Cape Town Air Access is a global award-winning air-route development project. It acts as the focal point for proactive air route development, for both passengers and air cargo, in Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Cargo volumes are showing continued growth

Stander says the airport in December surpassed its 2024 record with regard to flying passengers. In 2024, the record stood at 364 000 two-way international passengers. This was an increase of 10% year-on-year. At the same time, domestic two-way passengers also showed an increase by 7%, reaching 754 000 that month. She says they are also happy that cargo volumes are showing continued growth. There was an increase of 42% compared to 2024 for the first 10 months of 2025.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has rejected claims circulating on social media that it instructed Rocklands High School in Mitchell’s Plain to admit a Grade 8 learner despite the school being oversubscribed.

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the department never issued a written directive ordering the school to accept the learner, adding that the documentation shared online merely reflected the parent’s request, not departmental approval.

“The school governing body is responsible for admissions. The WCED can only instruct a school to accept a learner once an appeal has been upheld by the provincial minister. In this case, the appeal was dismissed.”

The matter involves Melissa Smith, a mother of three, whose youngest son has not been placed at Rocklands High School, where her twin boys are already enrolled. Thousands of Grade 8 learners across the province began the 2026 academic year on Wednesday.

Also read: School bell rings for over 1 million  learners in the Western Cape 

Smith has expressed frustration on social media, saying she applied on time and followed all required processes. She argues that sibling placement and the school’s proximity to her home should have secured her youngest son a place.

“My twin sons are currently learners at Rocklands High. Despite sibling placement, proximity, and months of appeals, my youngest son was rejected on the basis of oversubscription.”

However, Hammond says Smith failed to indicate in her original application that the learner had siblings already attending the school, a key factor in admissions consideration.

“The parent did not declare sibling status in the initial application. In addition, the learner did not meet the admission requirements for other schools applied to. Rocklands High also received thousands more applications than it can accommodate.”

Hammond further disputed claims that the learner is unplaced, stating that an alternative placement was offered at Glendale High School, approximately 2km from the family’s listed address.

“The learner has been accepted at Glendale High School. The decision not to take up that offer is the parent’s choice. The distance difference between Glendale and Rocklands is approximately 900 metres, which is not unreasonable.”

Manenberg residents have been rocked by yet another shooting incident, in which two men were gunned down in Thames Avenue earlier this morning.

The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies and were declared dead at the scene.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk says Manenberg police have opened two counts of murder, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation.

“Manenberg police registered two counts of murder following a shooting early this morning at about 07:00 in Thames Avenue, Manenberg, where two males aged 50 and 53 were shot and fatally wounded. The motive for the attack forms part of the investigation. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”

The incident comes just days after another fatal shooting not far from the Manenberg police station. A 44-year-old man was shot and killed at the corner of Klipfontein and Duinefontein Roads in Heideveld on Tuesday.

Van Wyk says preliminary investigations indicate the victim was standing behind a taxi when an unidentified man approached and shot him, before fleeing towards Towerkop.

“On arrival, SAPS members found the victim lying face down in the road with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. A murder investigation has since been opened.”

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit an anonymous tip via the MySAPS app.

The City of Cape Town is urging residents to be wary of a growing number of job scams, with the latest incidents targeting desperate jobseekers in two directorates. 

Most recently, a scam emerged claiming to offer employment opportunities within the City’s Safety and Security Directorate. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, confirmed on Thursday that a misleading video is circulating online.  

“A video circulating on social media is inviting applicants to register for employment opportunities within the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate. This is a scam,” said Smith on a social media post.  

Smith reiterated that all legitimate City vacancies can only be accessed through official channels, being the City’s e-Services portal.

“All positions are advertised here, and this is the only way you can apply,” said Smith.  

He further emphasised that no politician may be involved in the recruitment process and urged the public to report any attempts at interference. 

Just days earlier, the City was alerted to another scam in Mitchells Plain, this time linked to the Urban Waste Directorate.  

Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg, said the City became aware of the scam on Monday. 

“The City of Cape Town has been made aware of false information circulating, claiming that a contract opportunity for R13 000 per month is available at the Mitchells Plain cleansing depot,” said Twigg on a social media post.  

Twigg said the fake notice led to crowds arriving at the depot, believing jobs were available. But he confirmed that it was fake.  

“No such contract or recruitment process exists. Please do not travel to the facility,” said Twigg. 

He further noted that the matter is being investigated.  

Twigg also took the opportunity to remind the public that the City “does not recruit people via WhatsApp messages, flyers or word of mouth” and cautioned against offers promising guaranteed income.  

“Please also be reminded that the City never charges a fee to apply for jobs, EPWP opportunities or contracts,” he noted.

Twigg urged residents to verify vacancies on the City’s official website, to report suspected scams through recognised City contact channels, and to avoid sharing unverified messages.  

“The City regrets the confusion and inconvenience caused and appeals to the public to help prevent the spread of false information by relying only on official sources.”