What's up in Cape Town: The Cape Town Met, Kirstenbosch concerts, fire updates, fuel prices, property market, and more. The Cape Town Weekly: Edition 26 January – 1 February 2026

January 30, 2026

🏇 Met Weekend Has Arrived

This Saturday, Cape Town transforms into South Africa's most glamorous destination as the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met returns to Kenilworth. The SA20 champions have been crowned, the Franschhoek fire is in its second week, and fuel prices are set to drop significantly in February.

In this edition: Cape Town Met preview, weekend events, SA20 final recap, fire updates, fuel price outlook, property market trends, and safety news.

🏇 Cape Town Met 🎵 This Weekend 🏏 SA20 Final 🔥 Fire Update ⛽ Fuel Prices 🚨 Safety

Cape Town Met — Saturday 31 January

Symphony of Style

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse
Time: 11:00am – midnight
Tickets: R200 (General) to R3,800 (Race Coast Luxe Lounge)
Theme: Where horse racing, fashion, music and movement harmonise like instruments in a magnificent orchestra

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.

Runners

R5m

Prize Purse

2000m

Distance

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.

Afterparty The official Heineken Silver Afterparty kicks off from 7pm with live music and performances running until midnight.

Things to Do This Weekend

Jan

Cape Town Met — Kenilworth Racecourse

South Africa's most glamorous race day. Gates 11am. Tickets from R200 via Computicket.

Jan

BLOND:ISH presents Abracadabra — The Ostrich

Three-day conscious dance experience in Philadelphia (outside Cape Town). From 4pm Saturday.

Jan

Mojo's Botanical Gin Fest — Sea Point

Gin tastings and craft cocktails at 30 Regent Road. From 1pm.

Feb

Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra — Kirstenbosch

German bandoneon specialist Lothar Hensel performs Piazzolla classics. Gates 4pm, show 5:30pm. R255–R360.

Feb

Liquideep — Cabo Beach, V&A Waterfront

Legendary SA house duo. Perfect Sunday afternoon vibes from 2pm.

Feb

Silent Disco — Camps Bay Beach

Dance on the sand at sunset. Headphones provided. From 6pm.

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

Sunrisers Eastern Cape 162/4 beat Pretoria Capitals 158/7 by 6 wickets Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town — 25 January 2026

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.

Sunrisers titles (4 seasons)

101

Brevis (first final century)

390

De Kock runs (PotS)

"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

Status: Active fire line in Banghoek Valley The fire that started on 17 January continues in steep, dangerous terrain. Most fire lines have been addressed, but one remains active at the top of the Banghoek Valley.

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.

23,500+

Hectares burned

Days of firefighting

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

February Outlook (from 4 Feb) Petrol: Down 77–82c per litre | Diesel: Down R0.92–R1.02 per litre

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)

Fuel	Coastal (Cape Town)
Petrol 95	R19.92/l
Petrol 93	R20.64/l
Diesel 0.05%	R17.58/l
Diesel 0.005%	R17.69/l

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.

1,358

January arrests

DUI arrests (past week)

Concerning trend: 195 people were killed in the Western Cape in the first three weeks of January, with 78 murders reported in a single week (11–17 January). Gang violence and extortion-linked shootings remain acute on the Cape Flats.

Emergency Contacts

Life-threatening emergency	112 (cellphone)
Cape Town metro emergencies	107 (landline) / 021 480 7700
Crime Stop (anonymous)	08600 10111
Fire emergency	021 590 1900

The Week Ahead (2–8 February)

4–5 Feb: The Lumineers

American folk-rock giants bring their Automatic World Tour to GrandWest Grand Arena. Two nights of anthems.

5–8 Feb: Ndlovu Youth Choir

The acclaimed ensemble returns to Artscape with powerful harmonies and vibrant choreography.

6 Feb: All Day I Dream

Deep melodic house makes its Cape Town debut at Cabo Beach. Soul-stirring sunset session.

8 Feb: Msaki at Kirstenbosch

Visionary singer-songwriter joins The ALT BLK Collective for a boundary-breaking performance.

🌟 Local's Pick: Muizenberg at Dawn

Skip the Camps Bay crowds. Before 7am on a summer morning, Muizenberg Corner (where the famous beach huts live) is pure magic. The light is soft, the surfers are just paddling out, and the coffee cart near the parking lot serves genuinely good flat whites.

Walk south toward St James for tidal pools perfect for a cold water dip. The train from town takes 40 minutes and costs almost nothing.

Pro tip: The Olympia Café opens at 7am if you need breakfast. Order the shakshuka.

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