RC 260826Cape TalkJohn Maytham
Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Afternoon Drive combined urgent public-service failures with debates over baboon management, affordable electric cars, weight-loss medicines and the enduring legacy of Dolly Parton.
- 15:23
Former Western Cape EMS director Cleve Robertson called South Africa’s emergency call system fragmented and inefficient, saying technology exists but political will and professional leadership are lacking.
- 16:23
The City will move the Waterfall and Seaforth baboon troops to a large sanctuary, sterilising males; officials rejected a proposed fence as unaffordable and unsuitable for available lowland habitat.
- 17:14
South Africa’s first generic semaglutide, Semagard, costs about R2,450 monthly versus roughly R3,000 for Ozempic; 13 further generic applications could increase competition and lower prices.
- 16:42
Chinese electric vehicles priced around R340,000 to R350,000 are gaining attention, with real-world range near 300km; motoring editor Ian McLaren said they suit urban commuting more than long trips.
- 15:47
Author Simon Sebag Montefiore said Sudan’s war is the Middle East’s worst current humanitarian tragedy, with 12–14 million displaced and more than 400,000 civilians killed since 2023.