Hey {{first_name | Brew}},
Cape Town’s week came in hot, SANParks is sending rangers (and drones) onto Table Mountain, Walmart is finally planting its blue signboards in SA, and Shell is still trying to drill its way back offshore.
Meanwhile, Scarborough homes are being snapped up by foreigners with wallets as big as their ocean views, and Zeitz MOCAA just dropped a landmark exhibition for Heritage Month.
Here’s the lineup:
🗞️ News – Rangers vs crime on Table Mountain, Walmart’s big entrance, Shell’s appeal, and Scarborough’s price surge
💎 Hidden Gems – Illusion tunnels, Cape Point’s trails, and plant-based eats worth crossing town for
🎉 What’s Happenin’ – Sept 12–18: Cake picnics, Gun Run madness, and Louise Carver live
Here’s what had us side-eyeing property prices, craving koesisters, and Googling “how to install a drone cam in my lounge” 👇
🗞️ The Headlines
🥾 SANPARKS DEPLOYS ‘BOOTS ON THE GROUND’ AGAINST MOUNTAIN CRIME
Table Mountain’s got a crime problem, and SANParks is throwing rangers, drones, and bodycams at it.
Why we’re obsessed:
They’ve upped ranger numbers from 16 to 40. That’s a lot of boots. And hopefully, a lot of criminals rethinking their life choices.
CEO Hapiloe Sello called the mountain a "microcosm of Cape Town’s challenges." Translation: the city’s problems are literally spilling onto our hikes.
Crime stats say robberies dropped from 133 in 2023 to 58 in 2024. But with 53 already this year, let’s just say I’m not skipping my pepper spray.
Politicians are questioning if it’s enough. MK party MP Siyabonga Mkhize asked if SANParks has "lost public trust." Oof.
🛒 WALMART’S LANDS IN SA: EVERY DAY LOW PRICES, EVERY DAY BIGGER WALLETS
The US retail giant is opening its first branded stores here. Yes, that Walmart..
Why it’s cool (or terrifying):
They’re promising "friendly service," "wide aisles," and "Every Day Low Prices." So basically, the opposite of trying to park at Canal Walk on a Saturday.
They’re sourcing locally. Small suppliers, rejoice!
They own Massmart (Makro, Game, Builders), but it’s unclear if they’ll rebrand stores. Game’s been struggling, so maybe Walmart’s just here to say, "Hold my shopping cart."
Incoming CEO Miles van Rensburg says they’ll deliver "a delightful shopping experience." Delightful? I’ll believe it when I see it.
⚖️ SHELL AND THE STATE APPEAL OFFSHORE DRILLING RULING
Conservationists won a huge court battle but now Shell and the government are fighting back.
Why you should care:
The original ruling required updated climate impact studies, oil spill plans, and public consultation. Shell said, "Nah, let’s appeal."
The Green Connection warns of "irreversible damage" and "resource curse" vibes. Meanwhile, small-scale fishers are like, "Our livelihoods are not your playground."
An oil spill in Doring Bay this year already wrecked local fishing for weeks. So, yeah, the risk is real.
Total Energies (the original licence holder) has dipped. Shell’s now holding the hot potato.
🏡 FOREIGN BUYERS ARE SNAPPING UP SCARBORGH AND DRIVING PRICES SKY-HIGH
Over half the homes sold in Scarborough last year went to foreigners. Local buyers, weep.
The tea ☕:
The average property price in Scarborough jumped from R2.3 million in 2016 to R7.85 million in 2025. That’s a 241% increase. My savings account is crying.
All top 22 suburbs with the highest foreign buyers are in the Western Cape. Because of course they are.
Foreigners without residency pay double what locals do on average. So if you’re competing with them, good luck.
Lightstone says foreign buyers make up 40% of purchases above R10 million. So if you’re not a millionaire, perhaps a moment of silence for us both.
💎 Hidden Gems
🚀 BLAST OFF INTO THESE BREW APPROVED MUST-DOS
Conquering Cape Point: Hike rugged trails, spot baboons and antelope, and ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular for epic views, all at the dramatic southwestern tip of Africa. (Just remember: the real ocean meeting point is at Cape Agulhas!)
Losing Your Mind at the Museum of Illusions: Step into the Vortex Tunnel, tilt through the Tilted Room, and clone yourself for the ultimate group selfie. Great for confusing your brain and upgrading your Instagram feed.
Wandering the East City Creative Scene: Fuel up with a killer coffee at Truth.Coffee, then dive into a maze of art galleries, indie boutiques, and some of the city’s best under-the-radar eateries. Perfect for a day with no plan and plenty of going with the flow.
🍷 DINING AMIDST THE VINES
Cavalli Restaurant (Stellenbosch) – Sustainability meets sophistication against Helderberg Mountain views. Their hyper-local menu features Karoo wagyu with umami paste, cured langoustine, and biodynamic ingredients so fresh they practically introduce themselves.
The Table at De Meye – Three-course family-style feasts under oak trees. Idyllic, rustic, and worth the drive.
🌱 PLANT-BASED GOODNESS
Pizzasaurus – Vegan pizza that’s actually good. Try "The Herbivores" and thank me later.
Prashad Café – Indian vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their bunny chow is a must-try.
✨ Looking for somewhere to go right now?
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✈️ Ready to Escape Cape Town?
Fly Further for Less with Fly Brew
I found a Cape Town → London return ticket for under R7,500 last week.
That’s less than half of what I paid last year for the same route.
Deals like that don’t last long, it’s already gone up by R2,000+.
Want the next one in your inbox instantly so you can save R2,000+ a year?
→ Save with Fly Brew alerts
Free tier → local & regional deals
Paid tier → mistake fares, global steals, + 2 custom flight requests/month🙂
🌬️ What’s Happenin’
✨ Want your event featured in Cape Town Brew? Click here to get featured
🌟FEATURED EVENT
We Proceed in the Footsteps of the Sunlight – Zohra Opoku at Zeitz MOCAA
A landmark Heritage Month exhibition and the first museum survey of Ghanaian-German artist Zohra Opoku.
Expect ten years of work in textiles, photography, printmaking, and installation exploring identity, lineage, and heritage across continents.
FRIDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
Fantasia Ft Spiral Spectrum
Psytrance, visuals, and late-night chaos at Club Paradise.
Foul Play & District: Listen Properly!
Bombshelter Beast, Nomadic Orchestra & more on one stage.
Late Night Barcade Vol 1
Live bands, craft beers, and arcade machines buzzing till late.
SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
OUTsurance Gun Run
Cape Town’s iconic road race returns from a 21.1km half-marathon to 5km fun runs (and even a pet walk). Food stalls and family vibes at the finish.
Cape Town Cake Picnic
All the cake you can handle, in one sweet Saturday picnic.
CSN&Y EXPERIENCE Tribute
A night dedicated to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young classics.
Songs (& Soup) with Nathan Maingard
Acoustic medicine music paired with nourishing bowls.
Hackers – 30th Anniversary Screening
Cult 90s cyberpunk returns to the big screen.
SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
Everybody Loves Sundays ft Naak
Daytime rooftop beats with Naak at The Grand Daddy.
Sanctus – Evening of Sacred Choral Music
Soaring voices and spiritual soundscapes.
FOX & OLIVATO
Dynamic duo performance live at the Brass Bell.
TUESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
OUTING – Macassar Dunes Conservation Area
Guided walk with Damon Hope exploring unique coastal ecosystems.
Haydock Series: Nicky Abdinor
Inspirational talk from the clinical psychologist and motivational speaker.
’n Pandok se Liefde
Afrikaans drama about love and resilience, one night only.
WEDNESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
TSITP Final Episode Watch Party
Binge buddies unite — season closes with a group stream on the big screen.
Global Connections Networking
Expand your circle at The Grand Daddy with entrepreneurs & creatives.
420 Film Society: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Cult classic chaos re-screened for one night only.
Stitch, Please! with aDawrable Crafts
Needles, threads, and sass included.
Blake Hellaby – Live At Queens
Jazz pianist lights up the mid-week blues.
Kurt Schoonraad: Funny Side Up
Cape Town comedy veteran with a fresh mid-week set.
THURSDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
Sop & Dop @ Arthur’s Mini Super
Soup, drinks, and community vibes in this local gem.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Celebration
An elegant evening tasting two iconic varietals.
Rainbow Nation: Colours of Hope
A gala evening of performances celebrating unity.
Louise Carver – Crush on You Tour
Pop powerhouse brings her new show to Noordhoek.
🤔 Topic of the Week
How do you use AI in your day-to-day?
Daily Maverick readers are swapping notes, from spotting AI’s “giveaways” (hello em-dashes and rule-of-three clichés) to debating whether it’s a tool, a crutch, or the new electricity bill.
Some say it’s just polished prose with no soul. Others call it the next great productivity hack.
→ Hit reply: How are you actually using AI for work, side hustles, or just to write passive-aggressive emails faster?
📊 How Was the Newsletter This Week?
Spot a ranger on the mountain, dodge a Walmart aisle stampede, maybe lace up for the Gun Run and if Scarborough prices depress you, at least the cake picnic won’t.
See you next Thursday. Same city, new drama.
☕🍷 Team CPT Brew
