Cape Town’s trusted daily digital bulletin. Hyper-local headlines, weather,
community and events for an engaged Western Cape audience.
Cape Town News | Wednesday, 3rd of December, 2025
Western Cape Headlines
Today’s Headlines
Provincial news: City fights back in explosive High Court tariff showdown.
City news: Cape Town dominates SA housing growth over the past decade.
Crime report: Crackdown intensifies with shocking arrests of City officers.
Community news: Massive R38m MyCiTi upgrade delivers jobs across the southeast.
WP sports: Rassie sparks festive frenzy with Christmas coastal walk invite.
Local events: Crowds expected as Mitchells Plain lights up after ten years.
Weather: A blazing, cloudless Thursday awaits with dangerous UV levels.
Today’s CTNews bulletin brings you the latest verified updates from across the Western Cape. In this edition we cover City fights back in explosive High Court tariff showdown, Cape Town dominates SA housing growth over the past decade, Crackdown intensifies with shocking arrests of City officers, R38m MyCiTi upgrade delivers jobs across the southeast, Rassie sparks festive frenzy with Christmas coastal walk invite, Crowds expected as Mitchells Plain lights up after ten years and the latest weather for Cape Town and surrounding areas.
Watch Today’s Bulletin
Prefer to read instead of watch? Scroll down for full story breakdowns and images from today’s bulletin.
Provincial News:
City of Cape Town defends legality of fixed tariffs in High Court.
The Western Cape High Court heard extensive arguments on Tuesday regarding the City of Cape Town’s decision to impose fixed tariffs and link certain charges to property values. The matter, brought by the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and AfriForum, has drawn national attention as municipalities continue balancing revenue needs with affordability concerns.
SAPOA is challenging three tariffs in the City’s budget, arguing that the Cleaning Tariff, Fixed Water Charge and Fixed Sanitation Charge should be declared unconstitutional. According to SAPOA, any charge linked to property value is, by legal definition, a “rate” and therefore must comply with strict procedural requirements under the Municipal Property Rates Act. They maintain that the City has blurred the line between rates and service charges, framing value-linked tariffs as service fees even when specific consumption cannot be directly attributed to households.
AfriForum advanced a similar argument, saying the City has exceeded its authority by using property values to determine charges that are not classified as rates. In court papers, AfriForum said authorities must exercise their fiscal powers within constitutional limits, stressing that municipalities cannot create new categories of charges outside what the law provides. They also argued that significant policy shifts should trigger by-law amendments and full public participation.
The City countered by asserting its broad constitutional authority to impose service charges and highlighted existing rebates for pensioners, low-income households and those affected by gentrification. The City’s legal team argued that research shows a direct correlation between household income and property value, making value-linked charges a rational and fair approach to cross-subsidisation.
Affordability concerns were raised by the SA First Forum, which said tariff increases place financial pressure on residents and require more rigorous consultation. The case resumes today.
City News:
Cape Town leads SA metros in new housing built over the past decade.
New data released by Stats SA shows Cape Town leading all metropolitan municipalities in residential construction over the past ten years. Between 2014 and 2023, the City recorded the highest number of completed houses and flats, affirming its position as the country’s most active hub for urban development.
Cape Town’s building pattern reflects a balanced mix of free-standing homes and high-density flats, a trend driven by rapid population growth, demand for affordable housing and pressure to contain urban sprawl. The report shows that 40% of all new units built in the City during the decade were flats, far outpacing Johannesburg, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni in this category.
Johannesburg, however, dominated townhouse developments, adding more than 20,000 units as part of its shift toward medium-density living. In Buffalo City, 85% of new residential construction consisted of dwelling houses, indicating a preference for low-density neighbourhoods. Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni followed similar patterns, favouring outward expansion rather than vertical growth.
Tshwane demonstrated a hybrid model, with strong numbers in both flats and townhouses, although its momentum slowed after 2020 due to pandemic disruptions. In contrast, flats represented only 1% of all new residential units in Johannesburg, underscoring vast differences in housing strategy across metros.
Cape Town’s sustained lead highlights ongoing challenges and opportunities: balancing density with liveability, ensuring adequate transport links and addressing housing affordability for lower-income communities.
Crime Report:
Cape Town leads SA metros in new housing built over the past decade.
Two City Law Enforcement officers assigned to the Metal Theft Unit were arrested on Tuesday morning on charges of extortion, bribery and business robbery following a Hawks investigation. The officers, aged 36 and 41, are expected to appear in the Cape Town Regional Court tomorrow.
According to the Hawks, the pair allegedly extorted money from spaza shop owners between January and their arrest date, demanding cash in exchange for overlooking immigration documentation or threatening arrest regardless of compliance. Victims reportedly paid R5,000 to R6,000 on multiple occasions.
Investigators also uncovered a major theft incident in which one victim, detained at Philippi East police station, had cigarettes worth more than R600,000 stolen from his vehicle while being processed. Both officers were previously arrested in May on similar allegations and released on bail.
The City confirmed that the officers have been suspended and that disciplinary proceedings are under way. A spokesperson said the Safety and Security Directorate remains committed to removing corrupt elements from enforcement services. Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani added that the investigation is ongoing and urged affected business owners to come forward.
Traffic Update/Community News:
R38 million MyCiTi rollout brings new jobs to Metro South
The City of Cape Town says six MyCiTi infrastructure projects across the metro-southeast have created 594 temporary work opportunities worth R38.1 million over the past two years. The upgrades form part of a planned R5.4 billion expansion of the MyCiTi network that will link Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with Wynberg and Claremont.
Job creation has been central to the rollout. The Sky Circle development in Lansdowne provided 296 temporary jobs, with additional opportunities at Heinz Road in Gugulethu, AZ Berman Drive in Mitchells Plain, and several smaller nodes along the planned corridor. Contractors draw names from the City’s jobseeker database, giving registered residents a direct employment pathway.
Councillor Rob Quintas said the investment extends beyond transport infrastructure, calling it “an investment in people and communities”. He encouraged residents to register or update their profiles at local subcouncil offices to qualify for future opportunities. The system requires successful applicants to respond within 24 hours once selected.
The upgrade programme also includes new stations, red bus lanes, pedestrian improvements and roadworks. Further announcements on construction timelines will be released as the project advances.
WP Sports:
Rassie Erasmus invites fans to join Christmas morning walk in Blouberg.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has again invited the public to join him for a Christmas morning walk along the Blouberg beachfront, following last year’s widely shared community event.
Erasmus confirmed the details on social media after strong public interest, saying the walk will begin at 06:00 on 25 December in front of Doodles restaurant. The six-kilometre route, three kilometres out and back, is intended as a brisk but accessible walk rather than a run.
The initiative grew from a casual invitation in 2024 that unexpectedly drew hundreds of residents. Last year’s walk became a moment of unity as people shared photos, stories and videos online. Participants described the event as uplifting during a difficult year, with Erasmus thanking fans afterward for their warmth and spirit.
This year, some social media users have suggested adding a charitable component by encouraging walkers to bring old clothes, blankets or shoes for donation. The coach has not yet confirmed whether this will be included but has welcomed the conversation.
The walk reinforces Erasmus’ reputation for openness and engagement with fans, with many calling him a unifying figure in South African sport.
Local Events:
Mitchells Plain Festive Lights Switch-On returns after 10 years.
A beloved Cape Town tradition returns this week as Mitchells Plain hosts its first Festive Lights Switch-On in a decade. The event marks both the start of the holiday season and the community’s 50th anniversary.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis will officially switch on the lights during the open-air celebration on Friday, 5 December, from 16:00 to 21:00 along Morgenster Road in front of Westridge Garden. Entry is free.
The programme includes food stalls, children’s activities and performances by Ricky Vanni Frontline, Vortex Dance Crew, Jodie Jantjies and band, DJ Chello, Young OG CPT and others. Comedian Wayne McKay will host the evening.
Organisers say the revival of the event aims to restore a sense of pride, togetherness and celebration in the community. Thousands are expected to attend.
Money Markets:
WP Weather Forecast:
Cape Town will see a warm and sunny day.
Cape Town will see a warm and sunny day, with clear skies throughout the morning, afternoon and evening. Temperatures will reach 26°C in Cape Town, 37°C in Paarl and 33°C in Stellenbosch, with light south-easterly winds around 18 km/h. No rain is expected.
South Atlantic swell will sit at around 1.4 metres with a 10-second period from the southwest. Tides include a high at 2:26 AM, a low at 8:27 AM, another high at 2:38 PM and evening low at 8:59 PM. Sunrise is at 05:27 and sunset at 19:45. UV levels remain extreme at 12.
TODAY’S NEWS SOURCES:
Provincial Politics – IOL – Theolin Tembot
City News – Cape {town} Etc – Sibuliso Duba
Crime Report – IOL – Chevon Booysen
Traffic Updates – Cape {town} Etc – Angelica Rhoda
WP Sports – IOL – Lutho Pasiya
Local Events – City of Cape Town – Event Listing
Weather – 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
