Friday, 13th of March, 2026
Today’s Headlines
- LEAP officers attacked while responding to gang gunfire in Hanover Park
- Cape Town terminates contractor after alleged bribery attempt targeting City Manager
- 28-year-old man drowns after being caught in rip current at Bloubergstrand
- Camps Bay programme helping people off the streets through jobs
- Football fans call for Cape Town’s DHL Stadium to host the 2026 Nedbank Cup final
- Absa Cape Epic returns with global riders tackling 8 days of Western Cape trails
- Warm Saturday ahead for Cape Town with clear skies and strong winds
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LEAP Officers attacked in Hanover Park during gang shooting response
A violent confrontation between residents and law enforcement officers in Hanover Park has renewed concerns about gang violence and community interference with police operations on the Cape Flats.
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has condemned the attack on Law Enforcement Advancement Plan officers who were assaulted while responding to gunshots in the area earlier this week.
According to authorities, LEAP officers were conducting patrols in Hanover Park when they heard gunfire and moved toward what appeared to be an active shooting incident between rival gangs.
Additional support vehicles from Elsies River and Manenberg were dispatched after officers called for assistance.
During the operation, one officer identified a suspected gunman and gave chase. The suspect was apprehended and searched, during which officers recovered a .38 Special revolver containing one live round and four empty cartridges.
The situation escalated rapidly when a group of community members began throwing stones at the officers in an attempt to stop the arrest.
Two officers were struck by stones during the confrontation, although neither sustained serious injuries.
With the situation becoming increasingly volatile and the risk to officers growing, members were forced to release the suspect and withdraw from the area.
The recovered firearm was later booked as evidence at Philippi police station.
Later that evening, LEAP members returned to the area as part of a coordinated operation with officers from Gugulethu and Nyanga while patrol vehicles secured the surrounding perimeter.
Despite searching several locations known to be frequented by the suspect, police were unable to locate him.
At approximately eleven that night, officers were alerted to another shooting in Summit Road where a man was found fatally shot.
Marais warned that interference with law enforcement operations allows violent criminals to escape justice and makes it more difficult for authorities to curb gang violence across the Cape Flats.
Residents have been urged to report criminal activity anonymously through the SAPS Crime Stop line, the MySAPS mobile application, or the City of Cape Town anonymous tip off line.
Source: Western Cape Government – Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety
Cape Town terminates contractor contracts after alleged bribery attempt
The City of Cape Town has terminated all contracts with a contractor after the owner of the company allegedly attempted to bribe the City Manager.
The alleged bribery attempt targeted City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo and was uncovered during a joint investigation conducted by the City’s Ethics and Forensics Department and the South African Police Service.
Municipal officials confirmed that the City Manager cooperated with investigators and acted as an authorised agent during a controlled operation with police that ultimately led to the arrest of the business owner.
The company involved, Triple C Maintenance and Services, held several contracts with the municipality primarily linked to construction related work.
These contracts included road maintenance, resurfacing projects and work on stormwater infrastructure across various parts of Cape Town.
Once the alleged bribery attempt was confirmed, the City terminated all existing contracts with the company.
Officials said the action reflects the municipality’s zero tolerance approach to corruption.
City authorities stated that attempts to improperly influence municipal officials will be met with firm and decisive action.
To ensure that residents continue receiving services, alternative arrangements have already been put in place.
Standby suppliers and alternative contractors will temporarily take over the work while the City replaces the cancelled contracts through new procurement processes.
The City said maintaining essential municipal services remains a priority while investigations into the incident continue.
Source: IOL – Wendy Dondolo
Man dies after rip current incident at Bloubergstrand Beach
A 28 year old man has died after getting into difficulty in the surf at Bloubergstrand Beach in Table View.
Emergency services were alerted shortly after 3.30 in the afternoon following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at the popular beach.
City of Cape Town lifeguards were the first responders to arrive at the scene and assisted family members in retrieving the man from the water and bringing him onto the shoreline.
Once on the beach, CPR was immediately started while paramedics were called to assist.
Despite extensive resuscitation efforts by emergency responders, the man was declared dead at the scene.
The rescue response involved multiple emergency services including National Sea Rescue Institute crews from Melkbosstrand and Table Bay, Big Bay Surf Lifesaving lifeguards, community medics, Netcare 911, ER24, Western Cape Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and the South African Police Service.
During the operation, lifeguards launched an inflatable rescue craft while NSRI rescue swimmers and volunteers assisted with the response.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute, the deceased man was an Ethiopian national living in Atlantis and may have been caught in rip currents while swimming.
Rip currents remain one of the most dangerous hazards along Cape Town’s coastline and can quickly pull swimmers away from the shore.
Police have opened an inquest docket and the body has been handed over to the Western Cape Government’s Forensic Pathology Service.
The National Sea Rescue Institute has extended condolences to the man’s family.
Source: IOL – Staff Reporter
Camps Bay programme shows progress tackling homelessness
A collaborative programme aimed at addressing homelessness in Camps Bay is showing encouraging results as organisers report a sharp reduction in rough sleeping and illegal structures in the area.
The initiative is led by the Camps Bay City Improvement District in partnership with social development organisation ignisive.
The programme forms part of a campaign called Give Smart Today, Help Build Tomorrow which focuses on providing individuals experiencing homelessness with shelter, rehabilitation support and access to employment opportunities.
Organisers say the strategy recognises that homelessness is often linked to deeper social issues including trauma, mental health challenges, addiction and family breakdown.
Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, the initiative aims to create pathways for people to rebuild their lives.
Within a year, the number of individuals regularly sleeping on the streets in Camps Bay has reportedly declined from around sixty people and twenty informal structures to zero.
Between December 2024 and December 2025 nearly two hundred people were placed in safe accommodation while others received assistance from social workers or entered rehabilitation programmes.
Participants are also able to access training and employment opportunities through a structured development programme.
So far thirty eight individuals have secured permanent employment after participating in the initiative.
Many participants are now employed as Community Stewards who assist with neighbourhood safety and environmental maintenance.
These stewards have reported more than one thousand safety incidents and removed over thirteen metric tonnes of waste from public spaces.
Local police have also reported a significant reduction in crime in the areas covered by the programme.
Supporters say the approach demonstrates how coordinated community initiatives can address homelessness while improving safety and social stability.
Source: IOL – Weekend Argus Reporter
Football fans push for Nedbank Cup final at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium
Football supporters across South Africa are calling for Cape Town’s DHL Stadium to host the final of this year’s Nedbank Cup.
The calls have gained traction on social media following a tournament filled with surprising results and major eliminations.
Several of the country’s biggest football clubs have already been knocked out of the competition.
Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have both been eliminated along with reigning Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Western Cape’s only Premier Soccer League team, Stellenbosch Football Club, was also knocked out in the Round of 16.
Only two top flight teams remain in the competition heading into the semi finals.
TS Galaxy and Durban City Football Club will face Motsepe Foundation Championship sides Milford Football Club and Casric Stars.
Because of the remaining line up, at least one second tier team will feature in the final.
Supporters argue that DHL Stadium offers world class facilities and would provide an ideal venue for the country’s premier knockout football event.
Cape Town last hosted the Nedbank Cup final in 2018 when Free State Stars defeated Maritzburg United.
In recent years the final has been hosted in Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Mbombela and Durban.
Source: IOL – Staff Reporter
Absa Cape Epic returns to the Western Cape
The Western Cape will once again host one of the world’s toughest mountain biking events as the Absa Cape Epic returns later this month.
Often referred to as the Tour de France of mountain biking, the race attracts both professional cyclists and ambitious amateur riders from across the globe.
The eight day stage race will run from 15 March to 22 March 2026.
Recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale as a hors catégorie event, the race is considered one of the most prestigious mountain bike competitions in the world.
Each year the route changes, guiding riders across some of the Western Cape’s most rugged and scenic terrain.
Participants cover approximately 700 kilometres during the race while climbing a total of around 16 000 metres.
Riders compete in teams of two and must complete every stage together.
The race is limited to 680 teams each year, making entry highly competitive.
Beyond the competition itself, the event attracts international attention and brings tourism and economic activity to the region.
It is also regarded as the most televised mountain bike race in the world.
Source: Cape Town Events – Event Listing
Financial Markets:
Warm Saturday ahead for Cape Town with clear skies and strong winds
Cape Town is expected to experience warm and clear weather conditions on Saturday with temperatures remaining comfortable across the region.
The forecast indicates a high of 26 degrees for Cape Town with an overnight low of 20 degrees.
Inland areas will be significantly warmer with Paarl expected to reach a high of 35 degrees while Stellenbosch is forecast to reach around 30 degrees.
Clear skies are expected throughout the day from morning through to evening with no rainfall predicted.
The probability of rain stands at zero percent while humidity levels are expected to remain around 70 percent.
Moderate to strong north easterly winds are forecast with wind speeds reaching approximately 29 kilometres per hour.
Along the coastline ocean conditions will see swells of around 1.6 metres with an easterly swell period of eight seconds.
Tide times for Cape Town are as follows. High tide at 12:42 am, low tide at 06:51 am, high tide again at 12:53 pm and low tide at 07:02 pm.
The sun will rise at 06:45 in the morning and set at 19:05 in the evening.
The UV index is expected to reach 8, classified as very high, meaning sun protection is recommended for those spending extended time outdoors.
Source: SAWS – South African Weather Service
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TODAY’S NEWS SOURCES:
Provincial Politics – Western Cape Government – Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety
City News – IOL – Wendy Dondolo
Crime Report – IOL – Staff Reporter
Feel-Good Friday – IOL – Weekend Argus Reporter
WP Sport – IOL – Staff Reporter
Local Events – Cape Town Events – Event Listing
Weather Forecast – SAWS – South African Weather Service
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
