Want to know where the locals love to go? In this exclusive series on Time Out Cape Town, ‘Local Intel’ taps into some of the city’s best-connected characters to unearth the corners you simply can’t miss in the Mother City.
Raised across Gugulethu, Langa and Pinelands, Siv Ngesi grew up moving between worlds that taught him very different lessons about community, resilience and belonging.
His earliest memories are rooted in township life: playing in the street until the lights came on, hunting in the bush with friends, and sitting around a table with his grandfather eating sheep’s head.
His move to Pinelands also marked a different chapter. “We were one of the first Black families allowed to live there,” he explains, describing a community of trees, neighbours moving from house to house, and meals shared at friends’ homes. “My parents couldn’t really afford it, but they made a huge sacrifice for us to be there. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
That grounding in shared experience - and in people showing up for one another - runs like a golden thread through what Siv does, both on screen and off. Alongside his acting career, he’s the founder of the MENstruation Foundation, which distributes free sanitary pads across Southern Africa as part of a broader fight to end period poverty.
It’s work he links directly to Ubuntu. “The whole world needs more Ubuntu,” he says, pointing to a South African instinct to go beyond the call of duty. “We do things we shouldn’t be able to achieve - and we achieve them.”
He's also excited about pushing his boundaries, expanding into food with Zuney Burgers, now popping up at Time Out Market Cape Town.
Blunt, funny and deeply proud of his city, Siv is clear-eyed about Cape Town’s challenges, from tourism pressure to rising property prices. But he’s just as quick to defend what he loves, insisting that Capetonians are open, generous with their time, and always willing to talk.
"We might not be as friendly as Joburg people, but hey, we don't have to be friendly. We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!"
For Siv, the real Cape Town isn’t hidden beaches or secret bars. It’s the people, and the home-grown places. Here's his take on where to go during your next visit.
There’s no room for pretence when it comes to food. Siv’s loyalty lies with a proper gatsby from Rylands. “The white people say it’s a sub,” he laughs. “Eat it on your bonnet there by Rylands. It doesn’t get better than that.” He’s just as committed to fish and chips in Cape Town’s coloured communities - heavy on “salt and vinegar”.
Address: Golden Dish, Shop 1 Block 1, Corner of 1 Klipfontein and, Gatesville Shopping Centre.
For Siv, feeling Cape Town fast means going straight to its communities. “I’d drive to Gugulethu or Langa, go to the taxi rank and have meat and sheep’s head,” he says.
“For me, that’s the ultimate.” It’s about everyday life, standing around, eating well, and being present, not sightseeing. He’s also clear about who should be going.
“A lot of South Africans, especially white South Africans, need to realise that they can go to the townships,” he says. “They can go to the townships and have an absolutely amazing experience.” Places like Gugulethu, Langa and Khayelitsha, he insists, aren’t off-limits. “Go to Rands, grab some meat. You won’t be in trouble. You won’t get robbed. You’re fine in the townships. I’ll stick by this.”
Address: Rands, 6 Makhabeni Road, Khaya Bazzar, Khayelitsha.
Kirstenbosch tops Siv’s list of places that deserve more attention. “It’s the most underrated place ever,” he says, whether you’re ending a hike there or starting one. He’s equally enthusiastic about getting onto the water.
“Canoeing out into the water in Cape Town, it’s just absolutely incredible,” he says, a reminder that the city shifts once you leave dry land behind.
Address: Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands.
Hiking is central to Siv’s relationship with the city. A sunrise climb up Lion’s Head is a given, but he’s more interested in longer, less obvious routes - waterfall-to-waterfall hikes around Table Mountain, or even sleeping on it.
“A lot of people don’t know you can do this overnight hike on Table Mountain,” he says. “You sleep over at the top. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Also check out: Best Hikes in Cape Town
If time is tight, Siv doesn’t believe in easing in. He starts with a sunrise hike up Lion’s Head, grabs breakfast on the move, then follows the coast past Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno before stopping in Hout Bay for a croissant.
From there it’s Chapman’s Peak, Noordhoek, Cape Point, Boulders Beach and Simon’s Town, with fish at Kalky’s in Kalk Bay and a swim at Muizenberg. T
he day winds through Rhodes Memorial, up Table Mountain by cable car for sunset, then Signal Hill “to see Cape Town by night”, before ending with pizza on Kloof Street.
These days, Siv keeps nights out relaxed. Karaoke at Bokeh in Sea Point is non-negotiable, followed by a late-night walk through the city or along the promenade. Mojo Market usually features somewhere along the way, keeping things casual before calling it a night.
Address: 84 Regent Road, Sea Point
For Siv, enjoying the local vibe is also deeply rooted in making a difference and giving back. The MENstruation Foundation, which he co-founded, distributes free sanitary pads across Southern Africa as part of a broader fight to end period poverty - a cause he sees as inseparable from values of care, dignity and collective responsibility.
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