Cape Town Met — Saturday 31 January

The Met is South Africa's premier weight-for-age race and one of Africa's most prestigious sporting and social events. Established in 1883, it draws over 50,000 racegoers for a day of elite racing, high fashion, and entertainment.

The Race: R5 Million Prize Purse

Twelve races headline the day, including two Grade 1 contests: the Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes (1600m) and the flagship Cape Town Met (2000m). Trainer Justin Snaith saddles six of the eleven runners as he chases an unprecedented fourth consecutive Met victory.

Key Contenders

Eight On Eighteen — The defending champion and reigning SA Horse of the Year returns to defend his crown. Finished 4.25 lengths behind The Real Prince in the King's Plate but should improve after that seasonal debut.

The Real Prince — Won both the Durban July and the King's Plate. Dean Kannemeyer's star is in top form entering his third run after a rest.

See It Again — Beaten just half a length in the King's Plate on his first start for Snaith. Backed to the head of the betting market.

Sail The Seas — Also involved in the King's Plate blanket finish. Value selection at 6.00 odds.

Things to Do This Weekend

Free Options

Sea Point Promenade: The classic Cape Town walk — best at sunrise or sunset.
Green Point Urban Park: Outdoor fitness equipment, walking paths, biodiversity garden.
Clifton Sunset Volleyball: Every Thursday evening at Clifton 4th Beach until March.

🏏 SA20 Final — Sunrisers Take Third Title

In one of the most dramatic SA20 finals yet, Sunrisers Eastern Cape came back from 48/4 to chase down 159 with four balls remaining. Matthew Breetzke (68*) and Tristan Stubbs (63*) engineered an extraordinary recovery to secure the franchise's third title in four seasons.

Dewald Brevis scored 101 off 56 balls for Pretoria Capitals — the first century in an SA20 final — but Marco Jansen's 3/10 kept the total manageable. Quinton de Kock was named Player of the Series with 390 runs.

"We were calm but probably panicking too," said captain Tristan Stubbs. "We know we bat well, so we kept looking for an over to get momentum."

🔥 Franschhoek Fire — Day 13

Firefighters from CWDM, CapeNature, NCC, and MTO Forestry continue battling the blaze. Aerial crews from Leading Edge are transporting ground teams into the area. The terrain remains extremely steep and dangerous, presenting significant operational challenges.

What You Need to Know

Franschhoek Pass: Currently open (check before travelling)
Wine farms: Franschhoek town and wine estates are open for business
Properties: No current threat to property; guesthouses and farms protected

Track live: AFIS Satellite Fire Map

⛽ Fuel Prices — Big Relief Coming

After the significant cuts in January, motorists can expect another big drop when prices change on 4 February. A stronger rand (trading around R16.40/USD) and lower global oil prices are working in favour of consumers.

Current Prices (Since 7 January)

Impact: Fuel carries 4.6% weight in the consumer-price basket. These cuts could push headline inflation toward the 3% midpoint — supportive for potential interest rate cuts.

🚨 Safety Update

Cape Town's enforcement agencies reported 1,358 arrests in January, with 404 in the past week. Drunk driving remains a significant issue, accounting for 21% of traffic arrests.

Emergency Contacts

The Week Ahead (2–8 February)