South Africa: Aircraft Deployed to Battle Table Mountain Fire - South African News Briefs - August 3, 2026
[allAfrica]
South African National Parks (SANParks) has deployed an aircraft to assist in containing a vegetation fire that ignited above Kloofnek Corner on Table Mountain in Cape Town. Rangers and traffic officials have successfully evacuated visitors and managed traffic flow as the blaze neared the Lower Cableway Station. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway remains shut for its annual maintenance, ensuring no visitors were impacted by the incident.
Firefighting teams remain present at the site. Meanwhile, Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium has returned its popular common octopus, Cherry, to the ocean. Cherry gained fame for her ability to predict FIFA World Cup match winners. She spent several months at the aquarium before being released. She has since been replaced by a new octopus, Plum, who will also be set free after three to six months.
Lastly, South Africa's Department of Health is gearing up to launch the M72 tuberculosis (TB) vaccine once it receives regulatory approval. The vaccine is currently in phase three clinical trials across five countries, including South Africa, and is seen as a potential breakthrough in the fight to eliminate TB by 2030.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
