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If your feed is heaving with inspirational quotes, Dry January manifestos and tips on how to beat Januworry, you’d be forgiven for thinking this article is about to get a little saccharine. But don’t leave the chat just yet.
There’s a confluence of good energy swirling around the southern tip of Africa right now, and it’s worth paying attention to. It certainly beats doom-scrolling through yet another long-form explainer on how AI is about to destroy the world. Your focus, after all, is your reality - or so they say. And if that sounds too pie-in-the-sky, let’s flip the script and look at who’s actually focusing on the Mother City. That, at least, is measurable.
Take New Year’s Eve at the V&A Waterfront. A packed amphitheatre watched Carl Wastie ring in 2026 alongside IShowSpeed (aka Darren Jason Watkins Jr), one of the world’s biggest YouTube creators.
IShowSpeed spent much of Ke Dezemba in Cape Town before heading to Johannesburg, firmly placing South Africa on the FY pages of his 45 million-plus followers. His New Year’s Eve livestream alone clocked more than four million views. That kind of visibility can’t be faked.
Another telling start to the year came with the announcement that travel industry media publisher Skift is bringing its Mega Trends event to Cape Town, alongside its established gatherings in London and New York. The event provides a comprehensive examination of the forces shaping global travel and tourism, now with a particular emphasis on the African continent.
And these aren’t isolated moments. Several broader indicators suggest that 2026 is shaping up to be a year worth watching. Here are three to note that have a considerable big-picture impact:
1. The rand is showing unexpected strength
After a volatile few years, the rand has entered 2026 on firmer footing. Improved global sentiment and easing pressure on emerging markets have given the local currency a boost, helping to stabilise import costs and ease inflation concerns, even in the wake of the tariff turbulence unleashed in 2025. Currency swings are never predictable, but seeing the rand trade at levels last seen in 2022 is a welcome way to start the year.
2. Petrol price relief is on the way
There’s also tangible good news at the pumps. Significant petrol price cuts come into effect tomorrow, driven by lower-than-usual oil prices and a stronger rand. For commuters, small businesses and households alike, fuel remains one of the biggest monthly costs — so any relief has meaningful knock-on effects, freeing up breathing room across the economy.
3. Cape Town’s property market up tick
Few sectors benefit more directly from inflation management and interest-rate cuts than property. In 2025, interest rates were reduced by a cumulative 100 basis points. This year, the banking industry expects the South African Reserve Bank to deliver a further 50 basis points of relief in 2026, provided inflation remains on target.
Against that backdrop, Cape Town’s ultra-prime property market continues to be resilient. Foreign buyers might account for roughly 30% of ownership in areas like Clifton and Camps Bay - it's hard to overlook that the most expensive property purchase made in 2025 was by a local and none other than Black Coffee himself.
The majority of purchasers are South Africans - including many returning from abroad with stronger foreign-earned currencies, according to Denise Dogon of DoubledProp, who also notes that there's a steady increase in "South Africans repatriating funds from abroad to purchase in Cape Town, viewing property here as both a lifestyle investment and a secure asset class."
"There is also growing interest from Middle Eastern buyers, particularly from Dubai, alongside South Africans repatriating funds and viewing Cape Town property as both a lifestyle choice and a secure investment."
Overall, Cape Town's market is "buoyant, with limited stock in prime coastal areas continuing to support strong prices."
The optimism of showing up
Last year certainly brought a surge of optimism as South Africa prepared to host the G20 Summit, marking the first time the event would take place on African soil. While the full economic impact is still unfolding, it's worth remembering what mattered just as much in that moment: how people on the ground used the global spotlight. As the world's leaders gathered, South Africans showed up too - taking a public stand against gender-based violence and femicide, and reminding us that progress isn’t only measured in policy or profit, but in collective action.
As 2026 unfolds, the opportunity certainly isn’t about blind optimism, but choosing where we place our attention - and what we’re willing to show up for.
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