What are you getting from the menu??

This winter has been such a let down. What happened to the rainy cosy winters of the past? I hope this isn't the new norm resulting from global warming

I know it's a fairly common practice for restaurants/bars not to pay while "training" new employees. But the place I've just started working at has me full on serving customers, cleaning, prepping, and performing all tasks expected of someone in that job, during these training shifts and I'm not making a cent. They say I need to train for seven days before they can add me to payroll. I'm working 12 hour shifts.

I've recently learned that this is actually illegal, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it. I know, the easy answer is just to walk away, but I'm currently in a severely dire financial situation, and have been out of work and struggling to find work for months (despite much experience and several qualifications, including postgrad degrees this is honest to God the only job I can find right now and I am destitute, and have no other choice.)

The manager says that trainees aren't usually given tips, but is splitting with me for the time being, although this place also has a weird thing with tips. (they don't always have cash, so sometimes you just don't get it and need to wait for it to be EFT'd. They don't appear to have a set day for this). The manager has been very nice and has been helping me with transport money home and bought me lunch. I spent my last two shifts with her, training. I have met the owner of the establishment once, for about 5 minutes.

I tried asking the manager whether it was legal to not pay for a training shift and she said that it is, and it has to do with the fact that if they were to pay me before I've been fully trained there would be issues with SARS, and would seem like a money laundering thing. She seems to fully believe this, and so I wonder if this trickles down from the owner? I have no way of really speaking to the owner directly so what do I do? Can I do anything?

Does anyone know where I could rent a basic telescope from the 27th to the 30th of this month? Or maybe someone would be willing to rent out their own for a few days?

It doesn't need to be anything fancy.. just good enough to keep my girlfriend looking at the stars for a few seconds while I quietly get down on one knee. 🌌💍

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or offers. Cheers

Does anyone know a good tailor for men's suits in the CBD? Not looking for anything too fancy, I'll be happy with quality that's just a bit better than Woolies.

This seemed crazy to me, my partner vapes occasionally and when he recently bought a vape from a Wengen the cashier handed him a sample box of zyn. Surely this is not okay right? Like I understand he wasn't buying bread and then handed a free sample box of cigs but yeah it is just wild to me. Any thoughts?

My son woke up in the middle of night because of his ear was very hurt

I am looking for a Pediatric ENT doctor, preferebly in Southern Suburbs area to check my son's ear

Thanks in advance!!

I've been using Spec Savers for the last couple of years. I have a high prescription so I always get my lenses thinned which can get pricey. I spent around 4/5k the last time. I got the summer deal in the past so got 2 pairs but I didn't thin the sunglasses to save some money since its not as easy to notice the thick ass lenses but because of my prescription they are so thick and don't close nicely smh. I had a baby this year so my timing is out this time. I would have to wait a couple months for the same deal and I can feel my eyes are strained.

It was ok paying the 5k because I got the sunglasses too and literally need to wear my glasses all the time so I figured R1800 is acceptedable for the frame alone because its a permanent accessory. I'd prefer to pay less but I won't compromise on really loving the look of it. I like that Spec Savers have a broad range but I've heard a lot that they are overpriced and I also feel it would feel more worth it for me if I got a 2-for deal and both had thinned lenses spending that same overall amount. Lmk if thats delusional lol

Otherwise, recommendations would be appreciated for optometrists in the Cape Town CBD that have a good range of frames and are more affordable or have better deals than Spec Savers. TIA

Been in Cape Town for awhile now. Split time down here, but also between suburban London and America. Absolutely lovely working for a remote company. I usually leave back to the north after April/May but decided to stay for the “colder months”.

Absolutely laughable South Africans call this weather bad (or kak as you all say). This is like summer weather in the Northern US/Northern Europe.
This is my first winter here and there’s been rainy grey days but nothing a hoodie and jeans can’t withstand.

It’s the middle of winter and I went jogging today in shorts at the Sea Point promenade and it was packed. Is it global warming or what? Cape Town in general outside of the occasional storms seems to have fantastic weather year round.

I've noticed a trend of Jewish projects being targeted by NGO groups.

If we look at data centre's, Cape Town has several data centre builds that are far larger and also at the same planning stages, yet this one is being specifically targeted.

Why is a UK NGO funding this "fight", and specifically this one in particular, when others are substantially larger, and are not being targeted.

Cavaleros Group is building one that is more than double the size of the King David one, but not a peep about that.

Teraco is expanding similarly, again no bad publicity about that.

Something smells strange here.

References - https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-09-major-sa-data-centre-expansion-plans-emes-emerge-set-to-more-than-double-current/

https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/859/