Gordon’s Bay recorded 264 property and vacant-land sales worth R533.6 million during the first half of 2026, averaging around 44 transactions per month. Cape Coastal Homes says limited properties available for sale are restricting activity in the local market.

Sectional-title properties accounted for just over half of all transactions, with 134 units selling for a combined R163.8 million. Their average selling price increased from R1.09 million in 2025 to R1.22 million, while 113 freestanding properties sold at an average of R2.9 million. Only 17 vacant plots changed hands, highlighting the shortage of developable land.

If the current sales pace continues, Gordon’s Bay is projected to record around 528 transactions worth R1.07 billion for 2026, compared with 762 transactions in 2025. Despite the slower activity, the outlook remains cautiously positive, with Gordon’s Bay continuing to offer relatively attractive property values compared with neighbouring Somerset West and Strand.

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South African consumers are being warned that shops cannot simply add an extra fee because a customer chooses to pay by bank card. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says it has received complaints about retailers adding charges of around R2 to R10 to card transactions.

The complaints largely involve independent traders and spaza shops. Under the Consumer Protection Act, customers must be charged the displayed price, and the NCC says the cost of operating a card machine should be treated as a normal business expense rather than passed directly on to customers.

The NCC is encouraging consumers who encounter these additional card charges to report the business, with the commission able to issue compliance notices and, where necessary, take cases to the Consumer Tribunal. The rules differ for services such as withdrawing cash through a shop’s card machine.

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The Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club has welcomed Leana, a high school exchange student from France, who will spend the next year experiencing life in South Africa through Rotary’s Long-Term Youth Exchange Programme. The programme is designed for students aged 15 to 19 and focuses on education and cultural exchange.

Leana will live with three different host families during her stay, giving her the opportunity to experience local family life, education and South African culture. Her exchange officially begins on 1 September 2026 and will continue until the end of August 2027.

There is also a special connection with her first host family: their daughter is currently participating in a Rotary exchange programme in France. Rotary says the programme aims to broaden young people’s cultural understanding, create international friendships and help students develop a more global perspective.

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The Western Cape Provincial Parliament has approved a motion to phase out disposable plastic water bottles from its operations within the next three months. Once implemented, bottled water will no longer be provided at parliamentary sittings, committee meetings or other official activities.

Instead, the parliamentary precinct will make use of water refill stations, reusable jugs and glasses. The move is intended to reduce single-use plastic waste and cut the amount of plastic entering landfills, stormwater systems and the environment. Parliament also expects to save money by no longer purchasing bottled water for members.

The motion also cited South African research that detected between 5 and 25 microplastic particles per litre in sampled commercial bottled-water brands. Supporters of the initiative are encouraging municipalities, public institutions and businesses across the country to consider similar measures to reduce unnecessary single-use plastics.

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