Monday, 9 of March, 2026
Today’s Headlines
- Heatwave warning as Western Cape temperatures surge toward 40 degrees
- Eighty homes hit as major fire tears through Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay
- Marine unit crackdown sees lobster poachers arrested across Cape Town
- High court interdict targets taxi intimidation at Atlantis transport hubs
- Ryan Gibbons wins Cape Town Cycle Tour in dramatic sprint finish
- National Extreme Festival brings high speed racing back to Killarney
- Extreme heat continues as inland temperatures push toward 40 degrees
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Extreme Heatwave Alert Issued As Western Cape Temperatures Surge Toward 40°C
Western Cape residents are being warned to prepare for several days of extreme heat as a heatwave advisory takes effect across large parts of the province this week. Temperatures in inland areas are expected to climb close to 40°C, raising concerns about heat related health risks and potential veldfires.
A heatwave warning has been issued across parts of the Western Cape, with the South African Weather Service confirming that persistently hot and uncomfortable conditions are expected between Monday 9 March and Friday 13 March. The advisory covers western parts of the province and is expected to spread further inland during the week.
The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has urged Capetonians to take precautions as temperatures rise sharply. Officials say vulnerable groups including children, elderly residents and pets face the greatest risk during prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Authorities are advising residents to remain well hydrated, limit exposure to direct sunlight and avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day. People who need to be outdoors are encouraged to wear light clothing, apply sunscreen and seek shaded areas whenever possible.
Forecast models indicate that the heatwave will initially affect western sections of the Western Cape and parts of the Namakwa district. From Tuesday onward the hot conditions are expected to extend into the Little Karoo, Central Karoo and western sections of the Garden Route.
Meteorologists say heatwaves are common during late summer in the Western Cape when inland high pressure systems trap warm air over the region. These conditions can push temperatures significantly above seasonal averages for several days.
Emergency officials have also warned that high temperatures increase the risk of veldfires across dry vegetation areas. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution around open flames and to report any signs of fire to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre.
Authorities say residents should continue monitoring official weather updates throughout the week as the heatwave develops across the province.
Source: IOL – Murray Swart
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Major Fire Destroys Dozens Of Homes In Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay
Firefighters battled through the night to contain a major residential blaze in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay, where dozens of informal structures were destroyed. Emergency services managed to bring the fire under control despite challenging conditions in the densely built settlement.
The fire broke out on Saturday evening in the upper section of the Dontse Yakhe area and spread quickly through closely packed homes. The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service responded with a large deployment of firefighting resources.
According to ward councillor Roberto Miguel Quintas, the City dispatched 13 fire engines and around 60 firefighters to combat the blaze. Crews worked for several hours to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further through the community.
Preliminary estimates suggest that approximately 80 structures were affected by the fire. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident.
Fire crews remained on scene late into the night to extinguish hot spots and ensure that the fire did not reignite. Disaster Risk Management teams are expected to conduct a full assessment of the damage.
Informal settlements remain particularly vulnerable to fires due to the close proximity of structures and the use of flammable building materials. Fires can spread rapidly once they start, often affecting multiple homes within minutes.
City officials say humanitarian organisations and government agencies will assist affected families with relief support while recovery efforts begin.
Source: Cape {town} Etc – Sibuliso Duba
Cape Town Marine Unit Intensifies Crackdown On Illegal Fishing
The City of Cape Town’s Marine Unit has intensified operations aimed at tackling illegal fishing and poaching along the city’s coastline, reporting a significant increase in enforcement activity and arrests.
The specialised unit is responsible for protecting marine resources and enforcing regulations related to fishing permits and conservation laws. Officials say the unit has expanded patrols and inspections over the past year.
Operational comparisons between July 2024 and early 2026 show a clear increase in enforcement actions. Complaints related to illegal fishing rose from 24 to 44 while inspections of fishing vessels and permits increased from 1,447 to 1,995.
Proactive patrols also increased, with more than 2,100 operations conducted to monitor coastal activity and deter illegal harvesting of marine resources.
The unit issued 1,939 enforcement notices and confiscated large quantities of marine living resources including West Coast rock lobster.
Recent arrests highlight the scale of the problem. In Ravensmead two suspects were arrested after nearly 400 rock lobster tails were discovered.
Authorities say illegal harvesting of marine species such as abalone and lobster remains a major challenge due to the high demand on international black markets.
Officials have encouraged residents to report suspicious activity along the coastline as part of efforts to protect marine ecosystems.
Source: Cape {town} Etc – Staff Reporter
High Court Interdict Targets Taxi Intimidation At Atlantis Transport Hubs
The Western Cape High Court has issued an interdict aimed at restoring safety and stability to transport services in Atlantis following incidents of intimidation and violence linked to taxi operators.
The court order targets several taxi associations including the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations as well as individuals named in the legal proceedings.
The interdict follows a recent shooting incident that raised concerns about commuter safety at local transport hubs.
Under the order, taxi associations are prohibited from assaulting, threatening or intimidating other operators or members of the public.
The ruling also forbids interference with transport services operating legally in the area and requires strict compliance with operating licences.
Key locations covered by the order include the Potsdam Public Transport Interchange, the Atlantis CBD taxi rank, Westfleur Circle and the Witsand informal taxi rank.
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku said the court order sends a clear message that violence in the transport sector will not be tolerated.
Authorities say law enforcement agencies will monitor compliance and conduct inspections to ensure stability across transport routes.
Source: Cape {town} Etc – Staff Reporter
Ryan Gibbons Wins 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour In Dramatic Sprint Finish
South African cyclist Ryan Gibbons claimed victory at the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour after an intense sprint finish along Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point.
The Fly Cool Collective rider secured the title following 109 kilometres of racing around the Cape Peninsula.
Gibbons crossed the finish line just ahead of Jaedon Terlouw while Ryno Schutte secured third place and was the first under 23 rider across the line.
The 48th edition of the event proved challenging for the elite men’s field with strong winds and several crashes disrupting the peloton along the Southern Peninsula route.
Riders battled difficult conditions throughout the race, particularly along sections such as Chapman’s Peak Drive and the climb toward Suikerbossie.
In the final stages a small lead group broke away from the chasing pack and worked together to maintain their advantage.
Gibbons eventually used his sprint power to edge ahead of his rivals and claim one of South Africa’s most prestigious cycling victories.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour remains one of the largest timed cycling events in the world and attracts thousands of participants each year.
Source: BikeHub – Cape Town Cycle Tour Press Office
National Extreme Festival Returns To Killarney International Raceway
Motorsport fans can look forward to a weekend of high speed racing as the National Extreme Festival returns to Killarney International Raceway.
The event forms part of South Africa’s premier circuit racing series and will launch the 2026 season in Cape Town.
Drivers and teams from across the country will compete in several racing categories featuring high performance cars and motorcycles.
The event runs from 13 to 14 March with gates open from 08:00 until 18:00.
Organisers say the festival will include live music, food stalls and market vendors, creating a family friendly environment for visitors.
Spectators will also have the opportunity to experience public karting and drift car rides at the Castrol Spinning Pitch.
Children will be able to enjoy fun fair rides, bumper cars, pedal karts and other attractions.
Killarney International Raceway has hosted major motorsport events for decades and remains one of South Africa’s best known racing venues.
Source: Cape Town Events – Event Listing
Financial Markets:
Western Cape Heatwave Continues As Temperatures Climb Toward 40°C
Very hot weather is expected to continue across the Western Cape on Tuesday as the heatwave grips much of the province.
Clear skies are forecast throughout the day with temperatures rising quickly after sunrise.
Cape Town is expected to reach a high of 33°C with a low of 17°C.
Further inland the heat intensifies with Paarl forecast to reach 40°C and Stellenbosch expected to climb to 38°C.
Winds will blow from the east south east at between 20 and 25 km/h.
Humidity is expected to sit around 60 percent with no rainfall forecast.
Along the coastline the ocean swell is expected to average around 1.8 metres with a south westerly period of 10 seconds.
Sunrise will occur at 06:42 and sunset at 19:10 with a very high UV index of 9 expected during the day.
Source: SAWS – South African Weather Service
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TODAY’S NEWS SOURCES:
Provincial Politics – IOL – Murray Swart
City News – Cape {town} Etc – Sibuliso Duba
Crime Report – Cape {town} Etc – Staff Reporter
Traffic Updates – Cape {town} Etc – Staff Reporter
WP Sport – BikeHub – Cape Town Cycle Tour Press Office
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
