The City of Cape Town’s premier accelerator programme for start-up entrepreneurs, #YouthStartCT, is back for its ninth year! This dynamic initiative is designed to drive skills development, spark innovation, and create job opportunities in the Mother City.

Applications close March 16, 2025 – entrepreneurs with existing businesses or groundbreaking ideas are encouraged to apply now!

This year’s competition will support entrepreneurs in Agriculture & Farming, Information Technology, Finance & Business Services, Tourism, and Manufacturing—offering coaching, mentoring, and seed funding for top performers.

‘#YouthStartCT has helped hundreds of young business owners turn their ideas into reality. Thriving businesses create jobs, boost innovation, and fuel Cape Town’s economy,’ says Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

HOW DOES THE COMPETITION WORK?

• The top 100 participants will be selected from the online applications and divided into ideation phase and existing businesses
• There will be ±8 weeks of training and mentoring, and three elimination rounds to whittle down the group from 100 to the top contenders
• During June 2025, the top three existing businesses winners and the top five business ideas will be announced at a gala event

HOW CAN YOUTH APPLY?

•  The competition is open to persons 18 – 35, until 16 March 2025
• All applications must be submitted online here: YouthStartCT 2025 Entry Form Survey (research.net)
• Indicate whether you are entering an existing business or a business idea
• All applicants will be required to create and upload a short video to communicate their proposal and why they think it will succeed
• Participants are reminded that the City’s Libraries offer SmartCape computer services where they can submit their entry if need be

Goodbye, Post Office! Cape Town Goes Fully Digital – No More Paper Bills After 2025

Aerial View Sea Point. Wikipedia

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The City of Cape Town is ramping up its paperless billing campaign, with over 430,000 accounts already being sent via email.

As part of its commitment to digital transformation, the City has announced that it will discontinue sending printed bills through the South African Postal Service after 31 December 2025.

This initiative is aimed at improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring more reliable bill delivery.

Residents who do not have access to email are encouraged to contact the City’s Call Centre for assistance in making alternative arrangements.

“We’ve made a lot of progress over the years with reducing the number of bills we print and send via the postal service; however, we are stepping up our efforts to switch to emailed accounts,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.