Monday, 9th of February, 2026
Today’s Headlines
- City finally moves on Airbnb as rate hikes threaten short-term rental boom.
- Western Cape seas deliver a shock win as Sea Harvest profits surge 300%.
- Cape Town lawyer punished after dodging tax duties for two decades.
- SONA closures set to choke Cape Town traffic, commuters warned to plan now.
- Steve Barker under fire as Simba’s African campaign collapses.
- Synth-pop giants land in Cape Town for one night fans won’t want to miss.
- Hot, humid and windy conditions with extreme UV expected tomorrow.
Watch Today’s Bulletin
Do Support Cape Town News on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/capetownnews
Cape Town cracks down on Airbnb rates.
The City of Cape Town is preparing to significantly tighten its approach to short-term rentals, with a proposed bylaw that would see properties primarily used for holiday and short-stay accommodation charged commercial municipal rates rather than standard residential tariffs. If implemented, the change could push rates up by as much as 135 percent, placing short-term rentals on the same footing as hotels and guest houses.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the move is about fairness in the tax system, arguing that properties operating as de facto commercial businesses should not benefit from residential tariffs. The city has maintained that short-term rentals function as decentralised hotels and should contribute accordingly to municipal revenue.
The proposal comes amid rising anger over housing affordability in Cape Town. With approximately 26,500 Airbnb listings in the city, critics argue that the growth of short-term rentals has reduced the supply of long-term housing and driven up rental prices. Cape Town’s residential property market is valued at around R1.2 trillion, with home prices having climbed close to 30 percent in the five years leading up to March 2024.
Demand pressures have been intensified by semigration from other parts of South Africa, foreign investment, and Cape Town’s reputation for reliable services and lifestyle appeal. In upmarket areas such as the Atlantic Seaboard, prime apartments now command some of the highest prices in the country.
Under the proposed bylaw, short-term rental platforms will be required to share listing data with the municipality. This would allow officials to identify which properties should be billed at commercial rates. Unlike cities such as London, Paris and Barcelona, which have imposed caps or bans on short-term rentals, Cape Town is focusing on taxation and increased housing supply rather than outright restrictions.
The city has said it is accelerating land releases, simplifying development approvals and supporting projects such as micro-flats near economic hubs to increase housing supply. Once a formal register of short-term rentals is in place, officials will be able to calculate the additional revenue generated by the new rates structure.
Source: Cape {town} Etc – Aiden Daries
Sea Harvest earnings surge as Western Cape fishing delivers major turnaround.
Sea Harvest Group Limited has reported a sharp rebound in profitability, with headline earnings per share expected to rise by about 300 percent for the year ended December 2025. The Cape Town-based company said the performance marks its strongest showing since listing in 2017 and reflects a significant recovery after several challenging years for the fishing sector.
In a trading statement released this week, Sea Harvest said headline earnings per share from total operations are expected to be between 216 cents and 222 cents. The group attributed the improvement primarily to higher catch rates, improved pricing and efficiency gains in its hake operations, while pelagic fishing also delivered strong results following operational improvements.
Management said favourable conditions in key fishing areas helped stabilise output, even as climate change continues to pose long-term risks to marine ecosystems. Increased milk flow in the group’s dairy business and tighter cost control across operations also contributed to the improved performance.
The strong local results were partly offset by impairments in Sea Harvest’s Australian business, where operations in Shark Bay faced environmental headwinds. The company’s aquaculture segment has also been affected by weak consumer demand in Hong Kong and China.
Sea Harvest said it remains encouraged by progress under its revised strategic direction, including the proposed disposal of Ladismith Cheese. Proceeds from the sale are expected to be used to reduce debt and strengthen the balance sheet.
With major fishing and processing operations in the Western Cape, Sea Harvest remains a key employer along the West Coast. The rebound offers renewed optimism for a sector that plays an important role in the provincial economy but faces increasing environmental and market pressures.
Source: IOL – Murray Swart
Cape Town attorney fined after failing to submit tax returns for two decades.
A Cape Town attorney has been fined R108,000 after failing to submit income tax and payroll-related returns for more than 20 years. The case has been cited by authorities as an example of the growing impact of tax non-compliance on the fiscus and the broader economy.
Sulaiman Chotia, the sole proprietor of J Ramages Attorneys in Athlone, entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State after pleading guilty to 18 statutory contraventions of South Africa’s tax legislation. The offences related to income tax and employer reconciliation submissions over a period from January 2005 to January 2025.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Chotia failed to submit income tax returns and EMP501 reconciliation statements despite repeated reminders and final demand notices from the South African Revenue Service. Fifteen years of income tax returns and three PAYE periods were outstanding and were only submitted after a criminal summons was issued.
The court imposed a fine of R108,000, with Chotia paying R72,000 to avoid direct imprisonment. Prosecutors argued that as a legal practitioner, he was fully responsible for ensuring his firm complied with tax laws and that the offences had serious consequences for the fiscus and the community.
In mitigation, Chotia said he had delegated tax compliance duties to an office manager who passed away in 2019 and that subsequent efforts to resolve the matter were initially unsuccessful. The Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions welcomed the sentence, stressing that compliance with tax legislation is mandatory, particularly for legal professionals.
Source: IOL – Sinenhlanhla Masilela
SONA road closures set to worsen congestion on Cape Town’s busiest routes.
Cape Town motorists are being warned to prepare for heavier congestion as rolling road closures linked to the State of the Nation Address come into effect across the city. The City of Cape Town has confirmed that closures will run from Monday, 9 February, through to Thursday, 26 February, affecting the central business district, the Foreshore and several major commuter routes.
Traffic disruptions are expected before, during and after SONA-related events, with a combination of full road closures, partial restrictions and temporary traffic stoppages scheduled on select days. City officials have acknowledged that even short interruptions can have an outsized impact in a city where congestion is already a daily reality.
Within the CBD, sections of Darling Street, Plein Street, Lower Plein Street, Buitenkant Street, Longmarket Street, Parade Street, Corporation Street and Commercial Street will be affected. Some restrictions will run from early morning through to late evening.
Beyond the city centre, temporary stoppages of up to 35 minutes are expected on routes including the N2 city-bound lanes, the M3, Rhodes Drive, Philip Kgosana Drive, Union Avenue and feeder roads in Newlands, Rondebosch and Observatory. These stoppages are likely to coincide with peak commuting periods, increasing the risk of extended delays.
The city has urged motorists to familiarise themselves with the full closure schedule, plan alternative routes where possible and allow additional travel time during the affected period.
Source: IOL – Murray Swart
Pressure mounts on Steve Barker after Simba exit CAF Champions League.
Former Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is facing growing scrutiny after Simba Sporting Club’s elimination from the CAF Champions League was confirmed over the weekend. The Tanzanian giants were held to a draw away against Petro de Luanda, a result that ultimately ended their continental campaign.
Simba fell behind early in the match before mounting a late comeback to secure a point. However, the draw left the club bottom of their group with just two points from five matches, confirming their exit from the competition.
Since taking charge in late December, Barker has overseen a mixed start, recording one win, three draws and one defeat across domestic and continental competitions. While the team has shown resilience, inconsistency in key moments has placed the South African coach under pressure at one of East Africa’s most demanding clubs.
Simba currently sit sixth in the domestic league standings with 16 points from seven matches. Attention will now shift to local competitions, with league and cup fixtures offering opportunities to regain momentum and deliver silverware after a disappointing African campaign.
Source: GOAL – Sinolwetu Tompela
The Human League to bring synth-pop classics to Cape Town.
UK synth-pop pioneers The Human League are set to perform in Cape Town later this year, bringing decades of chart-defining hits to a local stage. The band will appear at the Grand Arena at GrandWest on Tuesday, 12 May, in a show expected to draw strong interest from fans of 1980s pop and electronic music.
The Cape Town performance follows the group’s appearance at the inaugural Now Now Festival in Johannesburg and marks a rare opportunity for South African audiences to see one of the most influential acts in modern pop music live. Electronic veterans Blancmange will join the tour, leaning into the synth-driven sound that shaped a generation.
Formed in Sheffield in the late 1970s, The Human League helped redefine pop music by placing synthesisers at the centre of mainstream sound. Their album Dare is widely regarded as a landmark release that influenced the direction of electronic and pop music worldwide.
Fans can expect a setlist featuring well-known tracks such as Don’t You Want Me, Love Action and Open Your Heart. Tickets for the Cape Town show start at R795, excluding service fees, and are available through Webtickets. Organisers have advised fans to secure tickets early due to expected demand.
Source: Cape Town Etc – Lulama Klassen
Financial Markets:
Hot, humid and windy conditions expected on Tuesday.
The weather forecast for Tuesday, 10 February 2026, points to hot and humid conditions across Cape Town and the surrounding winelands. In Cape Town, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 28 degrees with a low of 20 degrees. Paarl will be significantly hotter, with a high of 35 degrees and a low of 18 degrees, while Stellenbosch can expect a high of 32 degrees and a low of 17 degrees.
Skies will remain partly cloudy throughout the day, from morning through to evening, with no rain expected. Humidity levels will be high at 85 percent, adding to the discomfort during the warmest parts of the day. A strong south-easterly wind of around 27.8 kilometres per hour is forecast.
At sea, a south-westerly swell of 1.5 metres with an 11-second period is expected. Low tide is forecast for 02:13 and again at 15:41, with high tides at 08:49 and 22:05. Sunrise will be at 06:17, with sunset at 19:43. The UV index is expected to reach an extreme level of 13, and residents are advised to take precautions when outdoors.
Source: SAWS – South African Weather Service
Cape Town News is funded by you.
If you value independent local reporting, please consider supporting us.
TODAY’S NEWS SOURCES:
City News – Cape Town Etc – Aiden Daries
Provincial News – IOL – Murray Swart
Crime Report – IOL – Sinenhlanhla Masilela
Traffic Updates – IOL – Murray Swart
WP Sports – GOAL – Sinolwetu Tompela
Local Events – Cape Town Etc – Lulama Klassen
Weather – South African Weather Service, Windy, Magicseaweed, Tide Forecast – Live Data
MONEY MARKET SOURCES:
Currencies: FNB FX – FirstRand Bank Ltd
Commodities: Goldbroker.com – Gold Broker Ltd
Crypto Market: Binance.com – Binance Holdings Ltd
CTNews will continue to track these stories and bring updates as new information becomes available. For the latest bulletin remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit ctnews.co.za for daily coverage and special features
Chief News Editor: Mark Botes-Lashmar
Written by: CTNews team
Publisher: Cape Town News
Region: Cape Town and Western Cape, South Africa
Contact: editorial@ctnews.co.za
