Looking back at the CapeTowner’s headlines of 2024

Looking back at 2024, the city centre has been back to its usual hustle and bustle, recovering well after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reporting back on 2023 at its annual general meeting last month, the Central City Improvement District (CCID), chairperson Rob Kane said the city centre is in better shape than it has ever been in the last 24 years, with property value soaring from R6 billion in 2006 to R42.8 billion at the end of 2023.

He said in 2023, the CBD saw an injection of investments worth more than R7.2bn, which is extraordinary for an area of 1.6km² – the CCID’s footprint area. “These included five-star hotels, residential and mixed-use complexes and commercial buildings, and more have come on stream in 2024.”

The beginning of the year was filled with celebration with the annual Tweede Nuwe Jaar street parade in the CBD on January 3, which saw minstrel troupes from all over the city bring colour, glitter and music to the streets, as well as the announcement for the annual Cape Town Carnival in January, which was themed “Lekker” this year.

American singer, songwriter and producer, PJ Morton, who is also a keyboardist for band Maroon 5, performed at the Calabash concert at the DHL stadium in Green Point on February 3. He ended off the January festivities with a charity event for Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust at the Wave Theatre.

February was off to a rough start after a man was stabbed during an altercation at a Summer Grooves music concert at the Castle of Good Hope on February 3. The man died in hospital the next day, Sunday February 4.

The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) also had its annual general meeting (AGM) in February, looking back on 2023, when they celebrated 20 years of existence.

CTICC CEO Taubie Motlhabane reported a good year at the meeting, with event numbers for the 2023 financial year almost reaching pre-Covid pandemic levels with 427 events hosted, compared to just 225 in the previous year. Ms Motlhabane said the centre had confirmed 376 events up to 2030 – 135 of these being international events.

Some of the events hosted at the CTICC throughout the year included the Cannabis Expo in March; the the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in May; the Sex Expo and The Good Life Show in June; the Cape Town Business Summit in July; The SA Innovation Summit in September and The Beverage Show last month.

In April, Cape Town Central Community Police Forum (CPF) held its monthly meeting at the station during which newly appointed acting station commander Brigadier Gerda van Niekerk was introduced to the community.

The Two Oceans Aquarium announced plans for a new stand-alone turtle conservation centre. The turtle rehabilitation facility is part of the V&A Waterfront’s Granger Bay precinct improvement project, which is set to roll out in 2025.

The Waterfront applied for an additional 440 000m2 in development rights across its entire current footprint, with the majority of new build planned to be in the Granger Bay precinct. It was envisaged that Granger Bay will be developed as a residentially led, mixed-use development with significant public and cultural amenities, including re-establishing public access to the ocean edge.

The R20bn development plan will include a public walkway linking the city centre to Mouille Point, which would connect with the current Atlantic seaboard promenade; a new bay area created by coastal protection, suitable for water sports; opening up public access to a new protected area suitable for swimming, with adjoining public amenities.

The month of May saw another tragedy which made headlines when the MFV Lepanto, a sailing vessel belonging to Sea Harvest, which had left Hout Bay Harbour, sank, leaving 11 crew members declared missing at sea.

The V&A Waterfront also launched two sustainability projects during May and June - four LS Double Helix 1.0 turbines in the Silo District in May, which aimed to show their commitment to sustainability by using wind energy to support the main supply at the precinct; and a café built using only waste materials harvested throughout the precinct.

During July, which marked Mandela Month, food relief organisation Ladles of Love held its annual event at The Lookout, Waterfront. The organisation attempted the Ubuntu World Record-breaking event by volunteering 67 minutes to craft and pack items for children in need.

During another Mandela Day celebration, volunteers from the Shincheonji church in partnership with Streetscapes and councillors took to Darling Street and other areas in Cape Town to conduct clean-ups.

Robben Island Museum (RIM) hosted an event celebrating the life of Krotoa/Eva on the 350th anniversary of her death, which took place at the Castle of Good Hope in July.

Small businesses welcomed the opportunities presented at the Cape Town Business Summit, which took place at the CTICC in August. The inaugural business expo was hosted as part of the event. Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners heard at the summit how they could grow their ventures and overcome obstacles.

The Crow Bar, an iconic pub in Waterkant Street, closed its doors in August after 128 years. Established as a hotel in 1896, the pub was frequented by merchant seamen and was renovated in 1988. The lease of the building came to an end, and, some years ago, the landlord of the building proposed an upgrade and redevelopment, however, the recent owner decided not to renew the lease with the redevelopment.

Leading into September, the quarterly crime statistics were released by the South African Police Service (SAPS). The statistics, which were recorded between January and March 2024 showed that Cape Town Central police station remains top of the list for the most community crime reported in the country, and also topped the list for the highest number of common robbery and theft out of motor vehicle.

However, at the monthly CPF meeting in September, police reported that crime actually decreased in the second half of 2024.

The City of Cape Town also launched a new international logo in September, along with its partnership agreement between Norse Atlantic Airways and the City of Cape Town, to promote the inaugural London-Cape Town flights which started in October.

In October, the City of Cape Town in partnership with DeafSA, launched a new functionality, which can be accessed on the City’s mobile app, that gives deaf and hard of hearing residents direct access to the City of Cape Town’s public emergency communications centre (PECC).

Cape Town was once again the recipient of a number of accolades at the World Travel Awards, announced in October.

Cape Town was named Africa’s Leading City Destination – for the fourth consecutive year, and additionally, a few venues at the V&A Waterfront were also awarded.

The Port of Cape Town was named Africa’s leading cruise port; the Cape Grace Hotel was honoured as Africa’s leading luxury hotel, and the One&Only Cape Town was named Africa’s Leading Luxury Resort. Go2Africa, a V&A Waterfront-based company, was recognised as Africa’s leading luxury tour operator.

The City announced the significant growth of the boat-building industry at the annual Boatica, which took place at the Waterfront in October.

According mayoral committee member for economic growth, James Vos, the marine manufacturing industry was valued at R4.9 billion, and showed an annual growth rate of 22%.

The CapeTowner went behind the scenes of during a tour of the shipyard at Robertson and Caine, one of the largest contributors to the country’s boat-building industry.

Last month, the eviction of the squatters at the Castle of Good Hope made headlines after they were removed by the Sheriff of the Court, with the help of SAPS and the Metro Police, on Friday November 1. City trucks and tractors moved in to clear dozens of crude dwellings under the watch of law enforcement, and it took clean-up teams days to clear the debris left behind on the land and in the moat.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean MacPherson subsequently held a tree-planting day around the Castle of Good Hope to beautify the area ahead of the tourist season, and a gate was erected to secure the land.

Earlier this month, City of Cape Town held a joint safety parade in the city centre, to mark their safety readiness for the festive season.

The event included the 876 cadets of the City’s Project 1 000, with the parade marking their formal appointment as Learner Law Enforcement officers.

Also joining the parade were officers with their service animals, South African Police Service (SAPS) officials and their vehicles, Central City Improvement District (CCID) public safety personnel, and an exhibition on the Grand Parade of City and SAPS vehicles and equipment.

The District Six Museum ended of the year by celebrating its 30th birthday with ex-residents and staff members.

The CapeTowner would like to thank all our readers for their support this year. We look forward to telling your stories in 2025.

Have a safe and happy holiday!