It is located on the Grand Parade, to the west of the Castle, and is built from honey-coloured oolitic limestone, imported from Bath in England.

On February 11, 1990, only hours after his release from prison, Nelson Mandela made his first public speech from the balcony of Cape Town City Hall.

On 2 January 2022, the National Assembly building of the Parliament of South Africa was severely damaged in a fire at the parliamentary precinct.

[3] On 7 January, Parliament announced that Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address would take place at the City Hall on 10 February.

[6] The hall was lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on the night of 2 March 2022 to show the city's support for the country during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The event is free to all, and includes top local performers, musicians and a projection mapping display on the facade of the building.

[14][15] The non-profit research group from the University of Cape town (South Africa) specialises in 3D digital documentation of tangible cultural heritage.