Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-04-17 i Pretoria News

The City of Tshwane has embarked on a process to blacklist at least eight underperforming companies that led to irregular and wasteful spending as part of efforts to address concerns raised by the Auditor-General (AG) regarding R26 billion worth of assets under construction. Mayor Nasiphi Moya said she was not in position to name and shame the implicated companies at this stage “because the process is not concluded as yet”. “What you will find in the process of blacklisting is a back-and-forth between the city and the companies. The company may respond and based on our policies we may find that they have good reasons. Sometimes it happens that we don’t pay companies on time and so we don’t want to assume that these eight companies will be successfully restricted…

Pope Francis surprised many followers this past Sunday with another unexpected public appearance, mixing with the crowds and dishing out sweets to children in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican City. It’s been good to see the 88-year-old man convalescing well from pneumonia, getting stronger and stronger as Easter approached. Our troubled world right now needs the wisdom of leaders like him. Of course, there are those in positions of power – those who just want to abuse it without democracy, the law or anyone getting in the way – who must be wishing the pope wasn’t well enough to speak truth to power this Easter weekend. In his Easter message last year, the pontiff spoke about the “stones that block the hopes of humanity”, referring to all the wars,…

The EFF is not backing down on its calls for an investigation into the recent visit by Members of Parliament from the DA, Patriotic Alliance (PA), and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) to Israel, describing it as “disgraceful and treasonous”. The trip, characterised as a “fact-finding mission,” has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning its legitimacy and purpose. The delegation reportedly met with various Israeli authorities, including President Isaac Herzog, a move that has been deemed a direct affront to South Africa’s commitment to justice for the Palestinians. The EFF argued that this visit undermined the country’s long-standing support for the Palestinian people and its opposition to Israeli apartheid. The red berets demanded that all MPs involved in the visit be summoned to appear before the Speaker and the Joint…

Trump’s unilateral tariff policies a tool to blackmail global trading partners Recently, the United States Government, in disregard of widespread opposition at home and abroad, has abused the tool of tariffs to blackmail and coerce global trading partners, including China. This unilateral and protectionist move infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of other countries, violates the WTO rules, undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, and impacts the stability of the global economic order. The Chinese government strongly condemns and resolutely opposes such a move. First, US abuse of tariffs highlights its unilateral bullying nature and seriously infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of other countries. The US government frequently and indiscriminately wields the big axe of tariffs to exert pressure on other countries, using tariffs as a weapon…

Inkosi Albert Luthuli’s daughter-in-law has provided gory details of the struggle icon’s state in 1967 when he had been brought to Stanger Hospital with a gash to his head. Wilhelmina May Luthuli, 77, said she was 20 years old when she saw the father of her husband lying in a room with a deep head injury, which was not bandaged. For decades the original inquest had maintained that Luthuli, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died after being hit by a goods train on July 21, 1967, in Stanger, on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal but his family has maintained that he was murdered by the apartheid state. Wilhelmina May Luthuli on Tuesday gave testimony at the National Prosecuting Authority-led inquest into the death of Luthuli in Stanger. The hearings started…

Stellenbosch FC’s 1-0 victory over AmaZulu on Tuesday evening came at a major cost, with striker Ashley Cupido expected to be out for “a minimum of six weeks” and miss this week’s trip to Zanzibar for the all-important CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against Simba FC. Cupido hobbled after just 10 minutes when his hamstring went “pop”, and was replaced by South Africa Under-20 forward Langelihle Phili. Stellies coach Steve Barker conceded that Cupido would not be on the flight to the East African island. “Yeah, it looks like it’s a bad hamstring, so unlikely that he’ll (Cupido) be available,” Barker said. “He says he felt it pop. “Unfortunate for us, especially with Bradley Mojela still out and Ashley, it’s obviously not ideal.” Barker’s woes upfront are further compounded, with Phili…

Lesotho has granted a licence to Pretoria-born tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, hours after denying it was fast-tracking the process as part of US tariff concessions. The small African kingdom was hit this month with tariffs of 50% on goods exported to the United States - the highest for any single nation on President Donald Trump’s now-paused reciprocal tariffs list. The levies were reduced last week to 10% for a 90-day reprieve. The Lesotho Communications Authority said Starlink - owned by Trump’s close adviser Musk - made its application in April 2024 and would be issued with a licence valid for 10 years. “This landmark decision marks a significant step forward in the country’s digital transformation,” it said in a statement. The approval came hours after Foreign…

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops that are scheduled to return home are reportedly stranded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to the closure of Goma International Airport, leaving the soldiers uncertain about when they will return home. The airport was shut down following a confrontation between M23 forces and SANDF personnel in January, which resulted in numerous casualties. Sources within the SANDF, currently involved in a peacekeeping mission in the DRC, have expressed alarm over the situation, stating to IOL that the troops are trapped and unable to return home. The DRC government issued a notice earlier this month banning the use of Goma International Airport, citing security concerns linked to the presence of M23/AFC/RDF forces. This decision complicates recent agreements between the Southern African…

ON April 12, I had the privilege and honour of being invited by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) to its celebration of its founder former President Jacob Zuma’s 83rd birthday. The MKP sought to use the occasion to not only celebrate his life but also to reflect on his achievements as the country’s former president. Reflections of his accomplishments come at a time when proponents of the so-called ‘nine wasted years’ of his administration are grudgingly revisiting their earlier mischaracterisation. As I have argued in my book, Unmasking the Politics of Mass Deception, the characterisation of Zuma’s administration as “nine wasted years’’ was no accident, and neither was it an outcome of poor analysis. It was a contrived campaign purposefully manufactured to expunge any positive development during the Zuma administration.…

Joburg-based activist Moreboys Munetsi has intervened to assist the family of a Zimbabwean man, Emmanuel Mahamba, who was brutally murdered in a horrific incident which has sent shockwaves in South Africa. In a video, widely shared on social media, Mahamba is seen seated on the road while a Ford Ranger runs over him repeatedly. He died at the scene. Gauteng police said they were still searching for the motorist implicated in the brutal attack following a heated dispute. Munetsi, a lawyer by profession, said he was providing legal support to the victim’s family. “For now I am giving the family legal support. At the same time, we were encouraging the Zimbabwean community in Joburg to raise funeral money through contributions,” Munetsi told IOL. Munetsi is popular among the Zimbabwean communities…

He didn’t want to say too much about facing fellow Springbok lock Jean Kleyn just yet. But Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé is confident that they can fix their lineout issues ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Munster in Limerick (6.15pm start). Nortjé is the ultimate lineout guru in the mould of a Victor Matfield with the way in which he analyses the set-piece. Bulls coach Jake White has often stated how Nortjé studies the lineout hour after hour on the pitch and his laptop to fine-tune the operation. But things didn’t always work out in last weekend’s 34-28 Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Edinburgh, where the Pretoria side wasted a number of attacking opportunities by failing to secure their own throw-ins. “It was frustrating. Our lineout is a…

Wrexham, backed by Hollywood star power, continue to fire the imagination of football fans and are on course to secure a historic third promotion in a row, from League One to the Championship next season. The team from the small Welsh town became famous after they were bought by Hollywood superstar and business mogul Ryan Reynolds and TV star Rob McElhenney for just £2 million in 2021. Their global profile was boosted by their TV show, Welcome to Wrexham. They have revitalised the town, and the team, and put both on the world map. And just like Reynolds’ Deadpool character from the Marvel series, Wrexham have shown a never-say-die attitude. Chasing the big time It may seem like the makings of another Hollywood script, but Wrexham could conceivably…

Nolusindiso Booi’s name will be etched into the Springboks’ history books this weekend as she becomes the first South African woman to reach 50 Test caps, when the national senior women’s team face Spain. Captain Booi made her debut for the Bok Women 15 years ago against Kazakhstan and will receive her 50th cap on Saturday, when she leads the team onto the Campo de Rugby Amorós Palao in Elche, southern Spain. By contrast, the Springboks’ most-capped player, Eben Etzebeth, began his career in 2012 and has thus far played 131 Tests for the country. Booi’s 50th appearance in national colours is a significant milestone for the Springbok Women and their ongoing development, reaffirming SA Rugby’s commitment to growing and nurturing the women’s game. “(Booi’s) humility, how she serves the…

THE appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as South Africa’s Special Envoy to the United States has sparked controversy, with some US groups and officials objecting to his selection because of previous remarks he made about President Donald Trump. President Cyril Ramaphosa this week appointed Jonas following the expulsion of former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool. Jonas in 2020 referred to Trump as “a racist, homophobic, and narcissistic right-winger” in a speech to the Ahmad Kathrada Foundation. The appointment also comes amid tensions between SA and the US, particularly in light of a recent US funding freeze due to false accusations land grabs by the SA government. Recently IOL reported that US right-wing publications Breitbart and National Review have dug up Jonas’ past comments, questioning his suitability for the role. The usually outspoken Trump…

Although South Africa’s billionaires mostly escaped the market rout caused by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariff vacillation, thousands of jobs could be at risk in the world’s most income-unequal country. Trump last week caused a massive rout in global stock exchanges, with the rand and JSE’s All Share Index not immune. The US President announced massive and sweeping tariffs that shocked the world before walking back some of the import duties. International billionaires were hard hit. While Pretoria-born Elon Musk remains the world’s richest man, with a portfolio worth $311 billion (almost R6 trillion) according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire’s Index, he has lost $121bn in wealth this year. To put that in perspective, last year, South Africa’s total gross domestic product was R4.6 trillion. Musk is tight with Trump and…

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has reiterated its support for the State of Israel, adding that if the party led by Gayton McKenzie is elected to run South Africa, one of the priorities would be re-igniting relations with Israel. Last week, IOL reported that Members of Parliament from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the PA had embarked on a controversial visit to Israel, reportedly involving meetings with Israeli authorities. When the trip came to light, the parliamentarians described it as a “fact-finding” mission. Some sections of South Africa have criticised the trip, given the context of the National Assembly’s adoption of a motion in November, urging the government to suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel until a ceasefire is reached in the Middle East. The PA’s Kenny Kunene told broadcaster Newzroom…

A policing expert at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) says the challenges facing the SAPS stem from the failure to adapt policing models to the South African context. David Bruce was commenting on the issues within the SAPS that were raised by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2025 National Policing Summit last week. Bruce said there was a lack of clear thinking about the model of policing in South Africa. “The resource crisis can be seen reflecting the fact that South Africa needs to adapt the model of policing to align it with the South African context. Up to this point, there has not even been a recognition of these questions.” Bruce added that while there was a persistent expectation that SAPS should maintain high visibility, this model was…

In a shocking development, Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane confirmed that the student shot and killed at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) was indeed registered at the institution. Speaking at the university’s Mthatha campus on Wednesday afternoon, Nkabane said the deceased, Sisonke Mbolekwa, was confirmed as a student through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) records. “The unfortunate part is that the department issued a statement without doing due diligence or quality checks to verify whether the student was registered,” she said. “On Tuesday evening, after noticing contradicting views, I asked the Director-General to verify. According to our NSFAS records, the last payment of funds to the student and the university was made at the end of last year.” She added: “So I can affirm today…

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is calling on the City of Tshwane to pay outstanding salary increases for municipal workers after Mayor Nasiphi Moya reported a projected R2,86 billion in cash reserves. The union is demanding payment of a 3,5% salary increase for 2021, which is a long-overdue adjustment that was agreed upon in a collective agreement for Tshwane workers. In addition, the union wants a 5,4% salary increase for 2023, another adjustment that the City has refused to implement, citing financial constraints. The union describes the outstanding salary increases as a "festering injustice" that remains unresolved due to ongoing labour court processes. During her State of the Capital Address last week, Moya mentioned that Tshwane’s financial outlook was starting to show signs of improvement, attributing it…

THE National Policing Summit, held from 8 to 10 April, under the theme ‘Efficiency in Action: Optimising South Africa’s Policing Potential’ aimed to strengthen the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) efforts to become modern, responsive and community-focused. The summit tackled important issues: the necessary balance between police visibility and investigating crime, the imperative of adapting the service to a rapidly changing policing landscape, and the critical role of technology in fostering a safer society. While such summits typically produce commendable outcomes on paper, focusing on the concrete actions that will follow thereafter is essential. The Joslin Smith trial serves as a stark reminder that murder, trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion have entrenched themselves in South Africa’s criminal underworld. Syndicates involved in the illegal drug trade, the construction mafia, and even acts…

Mamelodi Sundowns shift their focus to the CAF Champions League encounter against Al Ahly, with a place in the coveted final up for grabs when the two sides clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off). The Brazilians brushed aside Esperance de Tunis in the quarter-finals, beating the Tunisian side 1-0 on aggregate following two intense legs over the past fortnight. Sundowns are chasing their first final appearance since 2016. Having fallen agonisingly short in the past two seasons under current Wydad Athletic Club coach Rulani Mokwena, the hope is that it will be third time lucky for the Chloorkop-based outfit. The Brazilians are unbeaten against the Red Devils in their last seven meetings. As they continue to lick their wounds following a surprise 2-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs…