Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-05-09 i Pretoria News

In May, the spirit of Africa Month ignites a fervent exploration of the continent’s unparalleled beauty, particularly its incredible safari destinations. Africa is the world’s foremost wildlife haven, making it the ultimate destination for safari enthusiasts. The term “safari” originates from the Swahili word meaning “journey”. Embarking on a safari is not just about witnessing majestic animals in their habitats; it is a transformative experience that offers numerous benefits. Firstly, safari travel allows individuals to reconnect with nature, providing a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The serene landscapes and the sounds of the wild create a calming atmosphere that promotes relaxation and mindfulness. Safaris also foster a deep appreciation for wildlife conservation and provide unique educational opportunities. Travellers can learn about the intricate ecosystems, animal…

Yes, that one. That sometimes “addled old man” – a description used by a couple of CNN journalists – who wanted to run again for president when he was simply a bit too long in the tooth. Joe Biden was a great leader and president, but he destroyed everything when he overstayed in politics. It was painful to watch him during his last cringeworthy election campaign, watching him stumble over his words, etc. Biden initially did a splendid job wrestling the Oval Office and the nuclear codes away from Trump 1.0, before overstaying and clinging to the Democrats’ baton for too long. He should have thought then of the welfare of his followers as well as ordinary citizens of the world who value democracy, peace and stability. Instead, he gambled…

Informal settlement dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) have been “praying” that the new Roman Catholic pope will be someone like the late Pope Francis, ideally from the Global South, and, more importantly, someone who will continue to advance the interests of “the poor and the marginalised in our world”. “I am also thinking that it would really be ideal for a new pope to be coming from the Global South, particularly from Africa or Asia for that matter, and I am kind of optimistic that we are likely to have someone from our own soil,” said S’bu Zikode, the president of the AbM on Monday. However, he said what was “more important”, and what he and his movement were praying for, was for someone who would follow in Pope Francis’s…

SA must learn from China’s adaptive strategies for economic resilience When US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that China’s economy could lose “five to 10 million jobs” due to new tariffs, the headline predictably grabbed global attention. “The onus is on Beijing,” he added, laying the blame for de-escalation squarely at China’s doorstep. But such rhetoric, laced with provocation, ignores both the history and the present reality of US-China trade relations. More crucially, for countries like South Africa watching this power play unfold, Bessent’s remarks reveal not strength, but a strategic miscalculation: the assumption that China is cornered. The reality is quite different. China is not just enduring the storm – it is actively transforming it into a catalyst for growth and global integration. While Bessent frames tariffs as a…

The EFF in Tshwane has criticised Mayor Nasiphi Moya for cutting power to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital over R1,2 million in unpaid bills this week, calling the decision unfortunate and demanding that she explains her actions. The party, which is part of the multiparty coalition government in Tshwane, cautioned against being painted with the same brush as coalition partners. EFF caucus chief whip Godwin Ratiwane distanced his party from Moya’s action during a television interview on Tuesday evening. He said: “We are not going to take collective responsibility on matters that we are not responsible for. We should be judged according to our actions in government and not necessarily that we are part of some collaboration.” He said the mayor must be held accountable for switching off power supply at the…

Yet another unfulfilled promise of democratic South Africa is the failure to wholly implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations. On 30 April 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to suppress investigations or prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes referred by the TRC to the National Prosecuting Authority. This long-overdue response to long-standing demands from victims’ families and civil society is far from sufficient. It is, in fact, symbolic of the broader pattern of delayed justice and deferred accountability that has plagued our post-apartheid country. Established in 1995 to uncover the truth about human rights violations committed between 1960 and 1994, South Africa’s TRC opened many wounds but failed to provide adequate healing and closure. The transparent process,…

As winter approaches, many adventurers are preparing for trips to icy places around the country. However, packing for these cold-weather excursions can be daunting, especially when balancing the urge to stay warm with the necessity of travelling light. But with some strategic planning and a few clever tricks, you can fit everything you need into a carry-on bag. Winter travel packing begins with understanding that heavy, bulky clothing is not the way to go. Instead, embrace the power of layers. Layers not only provide flexibility in varying temperatures, but also help you save precious space in your luggage. Pack layers, not bulk Instead of stuffing your suitcase with thick sweaters and large sweatshirts, opt for thinner insulating layers such as base layers, long-sleeve t-shirts, and lightweight sweaters. This…

Ambassadors, local politicians, and members of the public gathered at The Fairtree Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on Wednesday night to celebrate Victory Day, marking 80 years since the end of World War II. The event was hosted by Russian Ambassador Roman Ambarov, who represented the Russian Federation in South Africa and Lesotho, in anticipation of Moscow's official Victory Day celebrations on May 9. Russia's official celebrations were scheduled for Friday, May 9, Victory Day, which is its most significant secular holiday marked by grand parades through Red Square and other ceremonies. For Russia, Victory Day is more than just a ceasefire commemoration but also a potent symbol of courage and unity prevailing over Nazi ideology, which was rooted in hatred and disregard for human life. The Wednesday event…

THE families and survivors of apartheid-era crimes have rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proposal that the inquiry into alleged improper influence in delaying or hindering the investigation and prosecution of these crimes also address the declaration of their rights and their constitutional damages claims. Their reasoning is clear, a commission of inquiry lacks the legal authority to determine rights or grant remedies. Ramaphosa’s announcement last week came after settlement negotiations with families of victims of apartheid-era crimes who had sued the state for constitutional damages over the gross human rights violations under apartheid. The families said they were denied their right to justice due to political interference and suppression, which was established to investigate political crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and torture during the apartheid regime. “Following discussions involving The Presidency,…

With a blend of tactical nous and spirited execution, Kaizer Chiefs have a chance to reshape their Soweto derby narrative this weekend by turning the tide in this storied rivalry. Beyond the usual bragging rights accompanying this high-stakes match, tomorrow’s Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban (3.30pm kick-off) brings an additional layer of urgency. The Nedbank Cup championship is on the line, and a golden opportunity for the Amakhosi to claim that elusive silverware for the first time in a decade. It will be an uphill battle to clinch a victory, but certain strategies will be pivotal to propel Chiefs to a win over their age-old rivals, Orlando Pirates... 1 Set-pieces, the Achilles’ heel of Pirates This season, Premiership teams have been carefully analysing their opponents,…

South African teenage prodigy Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ amazing season has just got wilder after he was signed up to the Indian Premier League on Thursday. The 19-year-old was called up by the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for Nitish Rana, who will miss the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to injury. Pretorius has taken the cricketing world by storm over the last 12 months, particularly during his debut season in the Betway SA20, where he emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer in Season 3. The young Paarl Royals batter amassed an impressive 397 runs at a breath-taking strike rate of over 166.81. His performance included four half-centuries, with an outstanding top score of 97 on debut. “It’s a real dream come true. I’m just trying to be…

A senior member of the EFF confirmed on Thursday that party leader Julius Malema and others were not planning to withdraw their visa applications to visit the United Kingdom, after a party delegation was not provided with visas to attend a conference at Cambridge University this weekend. Malema had been invited by the African Society of Cambridge to speak at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference but could not leave OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg as their visas did not arrive in time. Taking to social media platform X, Malema said he was at the airport when he received a letter, four hours before his departure, informing him he had been denied a visa. “The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference…

National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola on Wednesday revealed that one of the suspects arrested for the disappearance of Pretoria-based radio journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, was initially a key witness who seemed to be helping police investigators. IOL reported on Monday that four people have been arrested, linked to the disappearance of the couple in February. The two were last seen on February 18, 2025, leaving their home in Mpumalanga in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. Masemola said a fifth suspect has been arrested, including a minor aged 17. The accused have been charged with multiple crimes including kidnapping, theft, hijacking, and possession of drugs. "Only recently, it is when police got some of the clues, and when they did their further investigation, that…

ActionSA expressed its support for the intervention and clarification provided by Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya regarding the disconnection of the Weskoppies Psychiatric Facility in Pretoria. The power disconnection, which occurred due to long-overdue non-payment for services, has sparked public debate and concern over the impact on patient care. The incident unfolded on Monday when City of Tshwane officials disconnected power supply to Weskoppies Hospital, a vital public psychiatric facility, over an outstanding debt of R1 million. This move was part of the City’s ongoing Tshwane Ya Tima campaign, aimed at addressing the persistent issue of non-paying customers and improving revenue collection. In a statement issued on Tuesday, ActionSA acknowledged the frustration expressed by the public but cautioned against misdirected anger. The party pointed out that the root cause…

More than 50 City of Tshwane workers at a Region 3 waste management depot have been reporting for duty every morning only to find themselves idle due to a lack of resources and vehicles, and instead pass the time playing games like ludo and dice outside the offices. This was a shocking discovery made by the Member of Mayoral Committee for Agriculture and Environment Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, during his oversight visit at the facility this week. Workers, shown in a social media video, told Ramabodu that they lack the necessary tools and about 50 of them often have no work to do despite receiving monthly salaries from the municipality. “This is because of the management. The management must bring trucks because workers want to go to work,” one of the…

Mamelodi Sundowns took a significant step toward sealing their eighth consecutive league title after a commanding 3-0 win over Chippa United in their Premiership clash on Wednesday night. The emphatic victory allowed the Brazilians to restore their 12-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Orlando Pirates, who had earlier edged Golden Arrows 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday. Now just four points away from mathematically securing a record-extending 18th top-flight crown, Sundowns remain firmly on course for a historic season, with the possibility of adding a second CAF Champions League title also still alive. Head coach Miguel Cardoso praised his players’ determination and composure after what marked their 21st win from 25 league outings this season. “Every match that finishes 3-0 looks like flowers were coming…

A team in a desperate situation heading to Loftus Versfeld to take on the Bulls can be a dangerous one. That is what the home side would’ve learned from their meeting with the Stormers in February in Pretoria, when the men from the Cape needed to snap a two-match losing streak against their arch-rivals in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The Stormers won 19-16, and they turned the corner towards the playoff thanks to that underdog-status victory at Loftus. Cardiff, like the Cape side, arrived in Pretoria this week as the overwhelming underdogs for Saturday’s clash at Loftus (4pm kick-off). Still hunting a playoff spot, they will be a desperate team to record a victory on foreign soil as they push to stay in the top eight. That should be…

The Soweto Derby, as a cup final, is the dream of every company that chooses to sponsor local football. After all, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are the biggest clubs in the country, and to have them meet on the ultimate stage of your competition is the stuff of dreams. You are guaranteed a full house. Such encounters are rare, though. So rare, in fact, that since the unification of SA domestic football back in 1978 – when black and white players began competing against one another – there have only ever been four meetings between the South African giants in the country’s premier knockout competition, our own version of the FA Cup. Prior to 1978, the clubs met four times, with Chiefs winning three of those encounters, starting in…