The Cape Town Weekly , 16–22 February 2026

Investec Cape Town Art Fair — This Weekend

The 13th edition features 35 galleries exhibiting for the first time, including spaces from Lagos, Barcelona, Stockholm, Marseille, Palermo, and The Hague. Anchor galleries include Stevenson, Goodman Gallery, Southern Guild, and WHATIFTHEWORLD alongside international names from across five continents.

Beyond the CTICC, the Unbound City programme extends into Zeitz MOCAA, Norval Foundation, and BlackBrick Hotel. Guided art walks run all weekend, led by curators including Tandazani Dhlakama, Athi-Patra Ruga, and Anna Weylandt. The Gin Bar serves as the official VIP Art Hub with nightly DJ sets through Sunday.

Budget, Rates & Currency

Budget Speech — Wednesday 25 February

Property Rates — Good News for Homeowners

The City of Cape Town is proposing a 10.2% reduction in the residential rate-in-rand following the General Valuation 2025. Cape Town already has the lowest property rates of any metro in South Africa. Additional proposed measures include raising the rates-free benefit to the first R500,000 of property value (up from R450,000). The GV Roll is available for inspection at capetown.gov.za from today, 20 February.

Exchange Rates (20 Feb)

The rand remains near multi-year highs against the dollar, driven by record gold prices, improved commodity revenues, and investor confidence in SA’s Government of National Unity. A year ago, the rate was R18.49/$. Uncertainty around US tariff policy has weakened the dollar globally, further benefiting the rand. SA inflation eased to 3.5% in January. The Reserve Bank held the repo rate at 6.75%.

Water Watch — Dam Levels

The City stresses there is no immediate crisis, but the current supply needs to last until winter rains arrive — which are expected later than usual this year. Practical steps: fix leaking taps and toilets, water gardens at night only, avoid topping up pools, and monitor household usage. Large users should consider switching to treated effluent where possible.

This Weekend — 20–22 February

Still Running

Twelfth Night at Maynardville — Shakespeare meets La Dolce Vita in a jazz-infused outdoor production (until 7 March, 8:15pm, from R212). The Galileo Open Air Cinema — outdoor screenings at Kirstenbosch and Blaauwklippen. Weekend markets across the city — Neighbourgoods, Oranjezicht City Farm, Bay Harbour, and more.

Weekend Weather

A beautiful late-summer weekend for Art Fair browsing, Kirstenbosch concerts, and market hopping. Clear skies Friday through Sunday with highs around 24–26°C, cooling slightly into next week. Wear sunscreen if you’re exploring outdoors — UV levels remain high. Light southerly winds keep things pleasant. No rain expected.

Safety & Power Update

SANDF Deployment — Details Awaited

Following President Ramaphosa’s SONA announcement, details on the army deployment to the Cape Flats to support police against gang violence are expected in the coming days. The SANDF will also deploy to Gauteng to tackle illegal mining. Community leaders have expressed cautious optimism, while civil society groups are calling for clear rules of engagement and accountability measures.

Unemployment Falls — But Remains Acute

SA’s unemployment rate dropped to 31.4% in Q4 2025, the lowest in over five years, down from 31.9% the previous quarter. Despite the improvement, over 8.4 million people remain out of work. Inflation for January came in at 3.5%, slightly above the expected 3.4%.

Load Shedding: Still Over

Emergency Contacts

The Week Ahead (23–28 Feb)