Cape On Alert As Level 8 Storm Brings Flood And Wind Warnings | 11 May | Cape Town News

Añadido: 2026-05-12

[00:00:04]The Western Cape braces for a level eight storm. Cape Town's CBD faces a major heritage battle. And Parliament demands more answers on gang violence.

[00:00:12]More coming up.

[00:00:15]Welcome to Cape Town News. Do hit subscribe and never miss a thing. Today is Monday the 11th of May, 2026. And here is what is making headlines across the Western Cape. Level 8 storm slams the Cape as flood fears intensify. Cape Town's monster building sparks outrage in historic CBD. Parliament digs deeper into Cape Town's gang violence crisis.

[00:00:39]Taxi fair shock looms as fuel prices rocket across the Cape. John Dobson demands quick fixes after stormers lose top spot. Africa's tech giants descend on Cape Town this week. Heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding threats continue Tuesday.

[00:00:55]The Western Cape's disaster response teams remain on full alert this morning as a powerful level 8 storm system lashes large parts of the province, bringing flooding fears, dangerous winds, rising rivers, and warnings of possible mudslides across multiple districts.

[00:01:12]The South African Weather Service has issued an orange level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall with forecasters warning that between 200 and 300 mm of rain could fall over mountain catchment areas while coastal winds may reach between 100 and 120 km an hour with wave heights expected to exceed 7 m.

[00:01:34]Western Cape local government and environmental affairs MEC Anton Bredell said provincial disaster teams, municipal emergency centers and road authorities were fully activated as the first weather bands moved across the southwest Cape. Bredell warned this is a serious weather system and residents are urged not to underestimate the risks.

[00:01:55]Avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from flooded roads and monitor official updates throughout the day. Western Cape disaster management spokesperson Colin Diner said officials were closely monitoring vulnerable communities, river crossings, informal settlements, and mountain pass routes as conditions deteriorate. Dinina added, "All districts have activated response protocols and resources are on standby should evacuations or emergency interventions become necessary."

[00:02:24]Motorists have been urged to exercise extreme caution, while coastal communities, fishermen, and small craft operators have also been warned to remain off the water until conditions improve.

[00:02:36]Fresh controversy is building in Cape Town's historic city center after a proposed high-rise development already labeled a monster building by critics received just four formal objections despite growing concern from heritage experts, property owners, and urban planners. The development proposal includes two 17story towers planned for the heart of the old city, close to some of Cape Town's oldest surviving buildings, including structures dating back to the 1700s. According to the city of Cape Town, only four objections were officially submitted during the public participation process, a figure that has now raised questions about public awareness and the future of heritage protection in the central business district.

[00:03:24]Deputy Mayor and mayoral committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment Eddie Andrews confirmed the objection count and said the application remains under review as the planning process continues. Andrews said the city remains committed to balancing responsible development with the protection of Cape Town's unique heritage and built environment.

[00:03:45]Heritage architect Dr. Steve Townsend has formally objected to the project, warning that the scale of the development could permanently alter one of the mother city's most historically sensitive precincts. Property owner Dr. Petra Prince added, "Once this skyline is changed, it cannot be reversed. We are custodians of a city that belongs to future generations." The proposal now faces continued scrutiny as planners weigh economic growth against preserving Cape Town's historic identity.

[00:04:14]Parliament's police portfolio committee has formally requested more time to complete its investigation into allegations linked to gang violence, police conduct, and organized crime in Cape Town as pressure mounts for answers from one of South Africa's most closely watched security inquiries. The committee is examining claims of possible interference in anti-gang operations, intelligence failures, and allegations that criminal networks may have influenced policing structures in parts of the Western Cape, particularly across gangridden communities on the Cape Flats. Committee chairperson Ian Cameron confirmed that members had requested an extension to allow additional witnesses, documentation, and evidence to be fully reviewed before the inquiry is concluded.

[00:05:02]Cameron said, "We owe the people of the Western Cape a thorough process. There are still important witnesses and evidence that need to be examined before this committee can reach final conclusions.

[00:05:15]Residents, community leaders, and anti-rime activists have closely followed the inquiry, hoping it will expose failures inside the criminal justice system and help restore trust in law enforcement. The committee is expected to return to parliament with its next findings in the coming weeks.

[00:05:32]As Cape Town's gang violence crisis remains under national scrutiny, Cape Town commuters are bracing for possible taxi fair increases after sharp fuel price hikes placed fresh pressure on operators already struggling with rising maintenance, insurance, and operating costs across the Western Cape.

[00:05:52]Petrol increased by 3 rand 27 cents per liter while diesel climbed by 5 rand 27 cents per liter on the 6th of May prompting urgent calls for intervention from the South African National Taxi Council. Santa Western Cape chairperson Bessutun Dungan confirmed that the organization has formally written to both the provincial government and parliament warning that the latest increases could place serious strain on operators and commuters alike. Andongen said, "This crisis is not only about transport costs. It affects livelihoods, families, workers, school children, and communities that depend on reliable public transport every day." Western Cape Mobility Department spokesperson Monira Ali confirmed that discussions with the taxi industry are currently underway as officials assess possible responses. For thousands of Cape commuters, the fear now is simple.

[00:06:46]Another trip to work may soon cost even more.

[00:06:50]The Stormers are looking to bounce back quickly after surrendering top spot in the United Rugby Championship following a dramatic 38 all draw against Olster Rugby on Friday night. The Cape picked up three valuable log points to move to 59, but slipped to second place after Glasgow Warriors climbed to the summit on 60 points. Stormer's director of rugby, John Dobson, admitted frustration after his side missed several key scoring opportunities, but insists a few quick adjustments will have the Cape side back on track ahead of their final league clash. Dobson said, "It is probably a mixture of frustration because we felt we should have taken five points, but there are quick fixes, especially around discipline and our contestable kicking game. The Stormers have already secured a home quarterfinal, but Dobson warned discipline and decision-making will be critical when they travel to face Cardiff Rugby this Friday. A strong finish could still see the Cape reclaim top spot before the playoffs begin.

[00:07:51]Cape Town's technology sector takes center stage this week as Scent Africa Tech Week returns to the mother city, bringing together leading innovators, investors, startup founders, policy makers, and digital pioneers from across the continent. The 2-day conference begins tomorrow at the Cape Town International Convention Center, where delegates will explore how emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship can drive economic growth across Africa. Organizers say this year's program will feature keynote addresses, live panel discussions, startup competitions, industry workshops, and highlevel networking sessions designed to connect local innovators with global investment opportunities. Topco Media, the event organizer, said Africa's digital economy continues to present major opportunities for business growth, skills development, and job creation. Tickets start from 5,800 rand with business leaders, developers, and technology entrepreneurs expected to attend from across South Africa and beyond. With Cape Town increasingly positioning itself as Africa's technology capital, the event is expected to place the city firmly in the continental spotlight once again.

[00:09:09]And now, what is happening on the markets? Starting with the major currencies, the US dollar is trading today at 16 rand45.

[00:09:18]The British pound stands at 22 rand and the euro will cost you 19 rand 33.

[00:09:26]Moving to the commodities market, gold is priced at 2,472 rand per gram. Silver is trading at 42 and51 cents per gram. Platinum is valued at 1,79 rand 38 per gram and Brent crude oil is trading at $15.71 per barrel. In the cryptocurrency market today, Bitcoin is valued at 1,331,352 rand. Ethereum is trading at 38,416 rand. Meanwhile, Ripple XRP is priced at 24 rand.71.

[00:10:07]And finally, Salana is trading at 1,569 rand. These figures reflect the latest available market data, which is highly volatile and changes in real time over the course of the day.

[00:10:22]Tomorrow is shaping up to be another wet and windy day across the Western Cape, so keep the rain gear close by. Cape Town can expect a high of 18 and a low of 13° while Pal reaches 15, dropping to 8, and Stellenbos peaks at 14 with a chilly overnight low of 7°. Heavy rain showers are expected through the morning, afternoon, and well into the evening with a 90% chance of more than 20 mm of rain and humidity around 80%.

[00:10:52]Winds will blow west northwest at 40 to 50 km an hour. At sea, swells build to 4.3 m with a southwest 12-second period.

[00:11:02]Low tide is at 6:09 in the morning, high tide at 12:11 in the afternoon, and low again at 6:07 in the evening. Sunrise is at 7:29, sunset at 5:55 with a low UV of 1. For the latest updates and more local news, do visit our website at ctnews.co.za.

[00:11:24]With that, we conclude today's bulletin.

[00:11:26]And now you know what's happening in the mother city. Thank you for watching Cape Town News. Do make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the daily bulletin at 3 p.m. Cape Town News is funded by you. And if this bulletin matters to you, please support us on Patreon. The link is in the description. We appreciate your support and your feedback in the comments. Until then, stay safe, informed, and connected.