Residents across Thornton, Maitland, the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD) and Newlands are asked to brace for weeks of late-night disruption as essential roadworks get underway.

From tonight, crews will be working through the night, between 19:00 and 05:30, Sunday to Friday, bringing expected noise and inconvenience to surrounding neighbourhoods.

Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, says the project is scheduled for completion on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, weather permitting and subject to any unforeseen delays.

“While construction was originally scheduled to commence in April, persistent wet weather conditions across Cape Town necessitated a short delay to ensure the work could proceed safely and effectively. I would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their continued patience and cooperation while these essential roadworks are carried out as part of the City’s ongoing road maintenance programme to keep Cape Town’s transport network safe, reliable and moving efficiently.”

The work includes resurfacing the following routes:

• Thornton: Viking Road between Sipres Avenue and Jakes Gerwel Drive
• Maitland: Voortrekker Road between Koeberg Road and Camp Road
• Cape Town CBD: Philip Kgosana Drive between Christiaan Street and Roeland Street

The City says extensive patching will also be undertaken along the M3 in Newlands between Newlands Forest and the Joyce Newton Thompson Bridge.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for stronger continental cooperation in response to the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, following a sharp rise in infections and fatalities.
Health authorities report that at least 80 people have died in the DRC’s Ituri province, while Uganda has confirmed two cases, including one death in the capital, Kampala.

There are also eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases under investigation.

Early symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat, which may progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and internal or external bleeding.

Ramaphosa, speaking in his role as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, praised both governments for their swift and transparent handling of the outbreak.

He urged African Union member states and international partners to strengthen systems for early detection, preparedness, and coordinated emergency response across the continent.

“The peoples of the DRC, Uganda and the wider region must not face this threat alone. Africa has the experience, institutions and resolve to contain these outbreaks. What is required now is urgency, unity and collective action,” Ramaphosa said.

The Western Cape Mobility Department says a new computerised learner’s licence testing system is helping to reduce fraud and make the process fair for applicants.

The system, known as the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing (CLLT) system, was launched nearly a year ago and has now been rolled out across the province, including at testing centres in Cape Town.

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the national learner’s licence pass rate has dropped from 68% to 40% since the system was introduced. Authorities believe this shows that cheating and corruption are being reduced.

“Before the rollout of the technology, officials at testing centres were reportedly able to identify question papers in advance and illegally provide learners with answers before the test, allowing unqualified applicants to pass. The new system has closed that loophole by randomly selecting question papers electronically, preventing officials from knowing which test will be used beforehand,” the RTMC said in a statement.

The RTMC said the lower pass rate indicates that fewer incompetent drivers are obtaining learner licences, a development the corporation believes will contribute to improved road safety and a reduction in road accidents.

Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku says the new system is designed to make testing more reliable and fairer.

“A driver’s licence is more than just a card; it creates access to employment and economic opportunities. As government, we want to make the licensing process more accessible, fair, and efficient while maintaining high standards of road safety and integrity.”

The new testing system uses touchscreen kiosks, fingerprint verification, and randomly generated questions to reduce human involvement and limit opportunities for corruption.

Sileku also addressed complaints from some applicants who feel the system is too strict or unfair.

“This system is not just a technological upgrade. It is about improving transparency, strengthening road safety, and ensuring every applicant is treated fairly and with dignity,” he added.

The department says it plans to introduce more measures to improve public confidence, including random audits of failed tests and exploring ways for applicants to review incorrect answers after completing the test.

Capetonians will now, for the first time, be able to fly directly to Zanzibar without stopping. Southern African airline, Airlink, says the new first-ever non-stop Cape Town-Zanzibar route will open in October 2026. Travellers will be making their way to the island on the airline’s brand new Embraer E195-E2 jets.

Capetonians will now, for the first time, be able to fly directly to Zanzibar

According to a media statement, this will be Airlink’s second route to the increasingly popular destination and follows the imminent start of its Johannesburg-Zanzibar services on 03 June 2026. Meanwhile, the CEO for Airlink, De Villiers Engelbrecht, says customers currently holding Airlink tickets for Cape Town-Johannesburg-Zanzibar flights will be able to switch their bookings to the non-stop direct flight at no extra charge. He says this is irrespective of the fare class booked, provided it’s in the same cabin.

A new Zanzibar service

Engelbrecht added that Airlink will operate its brand new, state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2 flagship aircraft on the new Zanzibar service. He says they accommodate 124 passengers in a 2-class cabin configuration with only window and aisle seats. Patrons are reminded that there are no middle seats on any Airlink flights. Engelbrecht added that flights to the increasingly popular island will operate on Saturdays from 03 October 2026. Travellers will have a flying time of just over six hours.

More about the island

The island is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. Zanzibar’s flourishing economy is seeing it emerge as a magnet for investors and business travellers. The local economy is driven by agriculture, manufacturing, marine services, and offshore oil and gas exploration.

Water and sanitation regulators from 15 African countries have arrived in the Mother City to attend a special conference, which starts tomorrow. This will be the fourth conference of water and sanitation regulators. It will be held at the CTICC.

Water and sanitation regulators from 15 African countries have arrived in the Mother City

South Africa’s Deputy Minister of the Water and Sanitation Department, David Mahlobo, will open the congress. According to a statement, the esteemed gathering was organised under the Eastern and Southern Africa Water and Sanitation Regulators Association (ESAWAS).

Promoting effective water supply and sanitation regulation

This network of Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) regulators is a body that seeks to promote effective water supply and sanitation regulation through regional cooperation. The congress will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, over three days.

The theme is: ‘Regulatory Requirements to Accelerate and Sustain Sector Progress’. It is aimed at fostering and enhancing regional cooperation and coordination on regulatory issues.

This can be done by:

– ensuring capacity building and information sharing.
– facilitating information sharing and skills training at national, regional and international levels. This is to enhance the capacity of members in the WSS regulation.
– identifying and encouraging the adoption of best practices. This is to improve the effectiveness of WSS regulation in the region.

4th Africa Water Supply and Sanitation Regulators Conference

ESAWAS currently has fifteen members. These include countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, Angola, South Africa, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Details about the conference:

Date: 19 May 2026
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Time: 09h00