Shopping and Communications
Shopping
Cape Town has several world-class shopping malls which sell all major international and local brands. The major centres include the V&A Waterfront, Cavendish Square in Claremont and Canal Walk at Century City.
You can go to the Pick ‘n’ Pay supermarket or the more upmarket Woolworths (not related to the closed stores in the USA or UK) store to buy food, water, snacks and personal items.
Also pay a visit to the numerous flea markets, for a true African shopping experience. There is one in Green Point (near McDonald’s) which is open on Sunday or, if you go into the city centre, there is a market at Greenmarket Square which is open every day. There is also an undercover market at the V&A Waterfront in the Red and Blue Shed.
Business Times
Most shops in the city centre and suburbs are open between 08.00 and 17.00 to 17.30 on weekdays and on Saturdays until 13.00.
Most major malls may open at 09.00 and close at 18.00 (or even 21.00 especially the V&A Waterfront and Century City) throughout the week, weekends and on most public holidays.
Government agencies still keep to traditional weekday only hours. Most banks close at 15.30 and are open on Saturday mornings from 09.00 to 11.00.
Telephones and Postage
Public Telephones
Blue public phones accept 20c, 50c and R1 coins. Green payphones use Telekom cards. Both coin- and card-operated phones are available at LAL with 24-hour access.
To dial an international number from South Africa, dial 00, then the country code, then the area code and number.
To dial a number in Cape Town, remember to dial 021 before the number.
Most US-style telephone plugs are used
Telephone Cards
World Call telephone calling cards and Cell C, Vodacom and MTN mobile telephone airtime cards are available al LAL Reception and are also available from most retail outlets as well as at all PostNet branches.
Mobile Telephones
You can hire a cell phone (mobile telephone) at the airport or in other major city centres. This will cost about R12 per day plus about R3 per minute of any call. You will need to pay a substantial credit card deposit.
If you have your own mobile telephone, some international telephones will work here with a local SIM card. You can get a local SIM card at Reception, free of charge, and this will let you have a South African number.
Postage Stamps
You can buy stamps at the front desk or Post Offices and PostNet branches, which can be found in the city centre as well as in Sea Point. You can post postcards with stamps at Reception.
