SA is putting B.A.L.L.S. on the moon

In partnership with

Hey {{first_name | Brew}}

Cape Town placed eighth on this year's global ranking of the world's happiest cities. South African researchers are also sending a device called B.A.L.L.S. to the moon.

And a Bellville dad turned his daily taxi commute into a book for his son. Here's what's brewing.

A word from our sponsor:

Every headline satisfies an opinion. Except ours.

Remember when the news was about what happened, not how to feel about it? 1440's Daily Digest is bringing that back. Every morning, they sift through 100+ sources to deliver a concise, unbiased briefing — no pundits, no paywalls, no politics. Just the facts, all in five minutes. For free.

Read the newsletter trusted by 4.5 million fact-seekers.

Now, back to Cape Town 👇

Good Things Happening

3 reads

The annual happiness ranking surveyed 24,000 people across 150 cities. Cape Town landed at number eight, the only African city on the list, ahead of Melbourne, Prague, Amsterdam and Hamburg. The mountain, the fynbos and a R55 glass of Chenin will do that.

South African researchers are putting metal spheres called B.A.L.L.S. on the moon. Bounced African Low Lunar Spheres, each a low-frequency radio antenna, part of the Africa2Moon project to build the world’s first lunar telescope array. The spheres hitch a ride on China’s Chang’e-8 mission in 2029. The dream is 55 up there, one for every African nation.

When Dr Jacob Cloete’s son started high school and took up drama, his dad wrote him some material. The UWC political scientist began turning his daily Bellville taxi commute into short stories, and they became a book. Stories in a Bellville Taxi is out now in English and Afrikaans, mining the humour and humanity from the route between Tyger Falls and Bellville South.

Want To Sponsor CPT Brew?

Put your brand in front of Cape Town’s most curious readers. Apply to sponsor an issue and let’s make something good together.

Events

Sun 12 Jul

11:00 R450	Bastille Festival, Franschhoek. Ten tasting tokens, a keepsake glass and live music from Amy Jones and The Blend Theory. Over-18s, runs until 4pm.
13:00 Free	Mr Keys & The Funky Munks at Kloof Street House, Gardens. Live funk and soul with your Sunday lunch. No cover charge. Book a table.
17:00 Free	Sunday Jazz Jam at Openwine, Wale Street. Local musicians, good wine and a neighbourhood spot in no hurry. Walk-ins welcome.
18:00 R100	Afrotopia at 14 Stories Rooftop Bar, CBD. Afro house from 6pm, city lights in every direction and a proper Sunday sendoff.

Hidden Gems

3 finds

Jeremy's, Prince Albert (3 hrs from Cape Town). Jeremy Freemantle's new spot skips the Karoo rustic for a pared-back interior and a seasonal small-plates menu that changes with what's fresh. Worth the detour on any road trip north. Tue to Sat, evenings only.

Upper Union (off Kloof Street), an à la carte spot in a beautiful house with a courtyard and conservatory. Small plates or a shared, expertly curated menu, and for once that description holds up. The chicken and duck pastilla, urfa biber kingklip, and Puglia burrata are all worth ordering. Warm, knowledgeable service and enough on the menu to justify a repeat visit.

Treat Coffee Roasters, Durbanville. Matthew de Freitas started with a 1kg Turkish roaster in 2020 and now runs a Brackenfell roastery with a flagship café at Spiro’s Corner. Pantone-blue counter, pastéis de nata, rotating single-origin beans and a wine-bar collab for when coffee isn’t enough. Open Mon to Sat.

Quote of the Day

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

Desmond Tutu

That’s your sip, Brews. Go somewhere that surprises you.
CPT Brew

Spotted something the city needs to know about? Reply to this email.

SA is putting B.A.L.L.S. on the moon

Every headline satisfies an opinion. Except ours.

Keep Reading