Weekend Argus Saturday 2025-04-26

Cape Town’s summer usually means packed beaches, fully-booked short-term lets, and tourists trying to hike Lion’s Head in flip-flops. But as the festive season winds down, the big question remains: did the Mother City truly enjoy a bumper tourism season, or was it more subdued than expected? Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy reports 5.2 million arrivals at Cape Town International Airport, with international visitors up 8%. But the CBD saw a dip – proof that traveller spending habits are evolving. “Domestic travel, however, continues to form the backbone of our tourism economy, accounting for over 3.6 million arrivals, while regional travel posted the highest growth rate at 21%, albeit from a smaller base,” Duminy says. From the front lines of hosting, Nick Sadleir, a professional Airbnb host who helps…

Cape Town property owners are still raking in six-figure sums for short-term lets over the festive season – but the game is changing. A one-bedroom ocean-view apartment in the Atlantic Seaboard can pull in over R100 000 for a six-week holiday let. But with short-term rental stock swelling across the city, hosts are adapting their strategies: from pricing to design-forward spaces and exploring new markets. Changing location The Atlantic Seaboard is “very expensive during peak season, and also booked out”, so other suburbs close to the ocean have also become very popular over the past few years, says Odette Maartens, head of rentals at DG Properties. Cape Town Tourism corroborated on this changing dynamic: they have seen some of its traditional tourism hotspots, particularly in the city centre, have a…

Reality TV star Tebogo “Pinky Girl” Mekgwe has revealed the reason behind her public fall-out with her media powerhouse cousin, Bonang Matheba. Mekgwe was introduced as Matheba’s cousin on Being Bonang and their close relationship was seen on the reality show until they had a public fall-out in 2023. Matheba took to X to say that she wants a new PA to join their team and threw shade at Mekgwe, saying, “Missing out on trips around the world because you’re unvaccinated. Ridiculous.” Mekgwe replied to her on her timeline and said, “That’s just being shallow ... from being dragged, unfollowed and blocked for no reason while I’m pushing the love.” In a follow-up tweet, she said that she is vaccinated but is simply not going anywhere. The cousins threw jabs…

At first glance, Dying for Sex might appear to be nothing more than provocative clickbait. Yet, this newly released Disney+ original series is a profoundly human exploration of terminal illness, sex and female friendship – so much more than its title suggests. The eight-part series features Michelle Williams in a compelling role as Molly, a woman whose terminal breast cancer diagnosis becomes a catalyst for a wild emotional and sexual rollercoaster. As Molly embarks on a journey of self-discovery, the series deftly navigates themes of intimacy, trauma, and the reclamation of one’s body in the face of cancer. Williams delivers a masterful performance, portraying Molly’s life-altering pivot with exceptional depth. The emotional weight of the series is established during a couple’s counselling session in which Molly receives the heartbreaking call…

Some years back, I happened upon The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, a documentary about a Ukrainian girl who was adopted by an American family, only to be abandoned two years later. There was nothing ordinary about this story, as there was uncertainty around Natalia’s real age. Suffering from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism, she looked much younger than certain physiological changes that were observed by her adopted mom. However, Natalia’s behaviour presented as a little girl prone to tantrums. Disney+ has revisited this true-life story in an eight-part dramatised series. The narrative is drawn from allegations, court proceedings, as well as what has been publicly reported on the story. Of course, some creative liberties have been taken to ensure it’s an engaging story. The writers employed…

It’s official. The side fringe is no longer just a memory from your 2007 Facebook album. In 2025, she’s making a quiet but confident comeback, and fashion insiders are taking notes. Forget what TikTok said about centre parts being the only way to look modern. The side fringe is back in rotation, and it’s being embraced for its soft edges, versatility and grown-up appeal. For the past few years, middle parts dominated runways, red carpets and every second post on your feed. Gen Z called the side part outdated, even tragic. But now, that narrative’s shifting. Vogue recently highlighted the return of sweeping side fringes in its trend roundup, pointing to a rise in more romantic, feminine cuts that frame the face and soften features. The side fringe works because…