The City of Cape Town has confirmed that more than 2,600* people were displaced, following the devastating fire in Dunoon Site 5 on Friday, 9 January 2026. 632 structures were destroyed.

The City’s Solid Waste Department moved in today (Monday) to remove debris from the fire site, while their Water and Sanitation counterparts are working to restore damaged infrastructure. Eskom was on site over the weekend to repair damaged electricity infrastructure.

The City yesterday reported that residents were preventing efforts to re-block Site 5, which would help reduce the severity of fires in future. Smile FM spoke to some residents on Monday morning who said that they don’t want the site to be re-blocked, as they fear they might lose their plots.

Some residents had already started rebuilding their shacks over the weekend.

Gift of the Givers is continuing to provide humanitarian relief, and the City says once the list of affected persons has been finalised, this will be submitted to SASSA to facilitate additional relief.

Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell has thanked those organisations and members of the public who have responded to the call for donations.

Donation drop-off points are still active on a 24-hour basis at the following fire stations:

• Goodwood
• Roeland Street
• Lakeside
• Constantia
• Hout Bay
• Strand
• Wynberg
• Milnerton

Contributions of non-perishable foodstuffs, personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, face cloths, sanitary towels), nappies and baby formula, as well as blankets/bedding are welcome.

*This article was updated to reflect the final tally of persons displaced

As learners across the Western Cape return to school on Wednesday, ensuring they get there safely is a top priority. With thousands of scholar transport vehicles on the roads each day, the Department of Mobility has launched a province-wide initiative to make sure learners travel in safe, roadworthy vehicles.

MEC Isaac Sileku says compliance and roadworthiness are essential, with inspections focusing on brakes, tyres, suspension, and wipers.

“By offering free vehicle checks and bringing regulatory services directly to operators through the Helpdesk on Wheels, we are making it easier to prioritise the safety of our learners. I call on parents, operators, and all road users to take personal responsibility for protecting the lives of our children.”

From today until 16 January, the Department will offer free vehicle checks at multiple centres across the province, including Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell, Swartland, Saldanha Bay, and several AVTS centres.

Qualified examiners will inspect key components such as brakes, tyres, and suspension, providing a report highlighting any defects.

Denver Van Aarde, Chairperson of the Mitchell’s Plain Scholar Driver’s Project, praised the initiative.

“Well done to the Department for this programme. It creates an opportunity for us to ensure our vehicles are roadworthy, and the support from staff has been genuinely heart-warming. This is a platform to prioritise the safety of learners, the most precious cargo.”

Maxine Bezuidenhout, Chief Director of Traffic Management, emphasises the shared responsibility for learner safety.

“These checks help identify safety issues early, before they put lives at risk. Road safety starts with compliance and accountability. Operators carry the primary responsibility, but parents also play a vital role in choosing safe services.”

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape is warning the public of a growing telephone scam in which criminals are cloning the official office number of the Provincial Commissioner to extort money from unsuspecting victims. 

SAPS said fraudsters are using the number 021 417 7148, which belongs to the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner’s office, to lend credibility to their calls. 

According to Provincial SAPS spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut, the scam relies on intimidation and deception. 

 “In this scam, the caller ID appears to reflect the SAPS provincial office number, creating the false impression that the call originates from SAPS,” said Traut.  

Victims are then contacted by individuals impersonating police officers, sometimes through video calls, with the suspects dressed in a police uniform to appear legitimate. 

Traut said victims are falsely accused of being linked to a parcel allegedly intercepted at an airport and said to contain contraband.  

“Through intimidation and threats of arrest or prosecution, victims are coerced into paying large sums of money to ‘resolve’ the matter,” read the SAPS statement. 

Authorities noted that the scammers deliberately create panic to pressure victims into acting quickly without verifying the information. 

SAPS stressed that this is not an isolated incident.  

“This scam is not limited to the Western Cape and similar cases have been reported across the country,” police said, warning that members of the public nationwide should be alert to similar tactics. 

Traut reiterated that legitimate officers will never solicit money from the public.

SAPS emphasised that “SAPS officials will never demand money to prevent arrest or prosecution” and that “SAPS will not request payments via telephone or video calls”.  

The public has also been urged to “always verify the identity and credentials of anyone claiming to be a police official”. 

He further confirmed that the matter is under investigation. 

“The compromise and misuse of the above-mentioned telephone number are currently under investigation, along with the reported cases linked to this scam,” Traut said. 

SAPS has cautioned residents to be aware that the number 021 417 7148 is currently being fraudulently used and urged anyone targeted by suspected scammers to report the incident immediately to their nearest police station or to Crime Stop on 08600 10111. 

“SAPS remains committed to investigating these incidents and protecting communities from criminal exploitation,” said Traut. 

The largest and heaviest sunfish rescue recently took place in Cape Town. Various rescue teams came to lend a hand after being informed that an enormous sunfish, weighing approximately one ton, had been trapped in Sturrock Dock at the Port of Cape Town at the beginning of the year.

“Due to the sheer size of the sunfish, we had to construct a custom rescue stretcher platform on site, utilising wooden pallets, scaffolding, chains, and other available materials,” explained Martine Viljoen, Marine Wildlife Manager.

The largest and heaviest sunfish rescue in Cape Town

At the forefront of the rescue mission was the Two Oceans Aquarium team. Its Marine Wildlife team, based at the V&A Waterfront, was contacted on January 1 to help guide and lift a one-ton sunfish out of a dry dock. This was not going to be an easy operation and would need various teams to assist.

Biggest sunfish rescue to date

According to a media statement, the rescue was done in close collaboration with the dry dock team. Their extensive experience proved invaluable towards constructing the platform. It further reads that this rescue platform solution was carefully assembled with safety for the rescuers and the sunfish as the highest priority. Viljoen added that “a critical component” of this rescue was the incredible support from Teemane Cranes.

Viljoen added, “Teemane Cranes, who generously donated the use of their crane and operator on a public holiday. Without their assistance, this rescue would not have been possible”.

 

A crane was needed to help

The Communications Manager for the Aquarium, Heather Wares, explained that the rescue platform was lowered into the dry dock by crane. This allowed the Aquarium team to guide the sunfish onto it. Confirmation was then given to the crane operator, who lifted the sunfish out of the dry dock. He then lowered the marine animal back into the water on the other side of the caisson (dry dock door).

“Throughout the process, the sunfish’s breathing was monitored, and the team ensured water was moving across its gills.”

Flight and re-entry to water

According to Wares, following the sunfish’s flight and re-entry to water, their team entered the water themselves to untie the restraints securing the sunfish. She says they then swam alongside the fish as they guided it towards deeper water. This allowed the rescued sunfish time to reorient itself before safely swimming off.  Wares added that as part of an ongoing genetic study, a small genetic sample of the marine animal was collected. They require tissue sampling to better understand which sunfish species are present in our water.

 

“We always respond to these calls and try to assist where possible,” said Claire Taylor, Interactive Exhibits & Marine Animal Welfare Specialist for the Two Oceans Aquarium.