An image of illegal dumping in Cape Town. Picture: X/CityofCT By Celeste Martin, 26 August 2025 The City states that despite increased enforcement, including 20,000 fines issued in the past year, the illegal dumping problem persists. John Maytham (standing in for Cape Talk’s Lester Kiewit) chats to the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member…
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Health fears mount at UN treaty talks: ‘Plastics are everywhere. We can’t protect ourselves’
Photo: Unsplash/engin akyurt By Celeste Martin, 06 August 2025 Environmental experts warn that without bold action; plastic pollution will spiral out of control. 702 and CapeTalk’s Africa Melane speaks to GroundWork campaigner Rico Euripidou, who is in attendance at the INC-5.2 conference in Geneva… READ MORE
Friends of Valkenberg Mandela Week
Obs Library Updates
Hack the Kitchen – Kids Flavour Science Lab
Extracting flavour from indigenous South African plants to make ice cream. The Food Indaba has partnered with the Cape Town Science Centre and Tapi Tapi Ice Cream to stage a series of chemistry and cooking workshops for kids aged 6 – 12. Kids will discover the science of cooking through a series of simple cooking…
What’s on at the Baxter
With winter in full swing, there’s nothing better than stepping out of the cold and into a warm theatre full of bold stories, big emotions and shared joy. Whether it’s a dazzling panto for the whole family or a quietly devastating Tennessee Williams classic, there’s something here for you this July. A Giant of a…
Earthworks and the presence of heavy machinery on the greenbelt alongside the Liesbeek River in Observatory
Dear residents of Observatory and other users of the Liesbeek River greenbelt in Observatory, Friends of the Liesbeek (FoL) is excited to announce the commencement of our longstanding “Fynbos Snake” project. Please refer to the image on the next page for the site plan and images. This project is happening in partnership with the City…
Conviction reveals criminal syndicates’ shifting focus in illegal plant trade
Clivia mirabilis in its natural habitat. The species is endemic to a small area in the Northern and Western Cape. (Photo: WWF / Andre Swart) Kristin Engel – 8 Jul 2025 The conviction of four people in the Northern Cape for the illegal poaching of the miracle bush lily reveals that criminal syndicates are targeting…
Civic Assemblies in Action: Lessons on Civic Engagement from Fort Collins
Fort Collins (from Wikimedia) From New America: In New America’s work on collaborative governance and civic trust, two themes consistently emerge: start with local experience, and listen to local stories to inspire broader leadership. At its core, co-governance connects the lived experiences of residents with those who hold decision-making power, enhancing civic agency… SEE MORE
Cape Town’s sewage treatment isn’t coping: scientists are worried about what the city is telling the public
An aerial view of Cape Town city. GettyImages Urban water bodies – rivers, lakes and oceans – are in trouble globally. Large sewage volumes damage the open environment, and new chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds don’t break down on their own. When they are released into the open environment, they build up in living tissues all…