Pretoria News is a local newspaper circulating in the Tshwane Metropolitan area. Pretoria News covers a range of local news, as well as national and international news, comment and analysis by experts, sport, entertainment and lifestyle.
JOINT EFFORTS NEEDED TO STOP SCOURGE Give GBVF cases priority GOITSEMANG TLHABYE and SAKHILE NDLAZI JACQUES NAUDE African News Agency (ANA) AS PART of marking the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) marched in Pretoria and presented memoranda to Police Minister Bheki Cele and the National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi. The aim of the march was to highlight how those within the criminal justice system – the police, investigating officers, magistrates, prosecutors, judges and others – often fail gender-based violence survivors and subject them to secondary trauma. The memorandums feature a list of demands which include the need for better policing, evaluation of legislation to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), priority given to GBV cases,…
Argentina and SA to strengthen football ties STAFF REPORTER Diego Armando Maradona has been celebrated far and wide, and in a corner of Waterkloof, Pretoria, where the residence of the Ambassador of Argentine is situated, the giant light blue and white flag with its sun is flying at half-mast. Ambassador Alberto Pedro D’Alotto reflected on the Maradona legend who was an ambassador for his country as he played and travelled the world. He was undoubtedly the best player in history, with his greatest “Hand of God” goal in Mexico against England in the quarter finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup, said D’Alotto. Argentina went on to beat Germany in the final. The relationship with football across the Atlantic includes many South African footballers adopting the name Maradona and tributes…
Mixed views on progression help NTANDO MAKHUBU ntando.makhubu@inl.co.za EXPERTS in the education sector have mixed views on the decision to bump up by 5% marks for the 2020 year-end exams in grades 4 to 9. But, said the department of education, extra help was necessary to ensure deserving children did not suffer more following an already stressful school year. The department sent a circular to all schools, giving them permission to increase marks by up to five percent in up to three subjects – and an additional one for maths, to assist learners to proceed to the next grade. This is an increase over the extra 2% which was available last year, with this change being attributed to the interruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The adjustment should be noted…
Warning of tighter local restrictions A RESURGENCE in Covid-19 cases in South Africa may lead to localised lockdowns. Because of the free flow of people between provinces, it was only in the early stages that inter-provincial travel was prohibited but Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has expressed concern at the surge of cases especially areas such as Nelson Mandela Bay. South Africa is in a five-day mourning period, declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa in honour of those who succumbed to Covid-19. South Africa has registered 21 289 deaths with a total of 778 571 infections since the first case in March. The country has been in lockdown since late March, with levels relaxed gradually. We are in level 1 and international travel is among the latest relaxations to be announced.…
OXFAM REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE WEALTH GAP The biggest losers in unequal SA VAL BOJE OXFAM’S latest inequality report for South Africa confirms the country’s status as the most unequal in the world – especially for black women. Titled “Reclaiming Power: Womxn’s Work and Income Inequality in South Africa November 2020”, the report by Dr Basani Baloyi and Sameer Dossani demonstrates the wealth gap but also the conditions that continue to perpetuate inequality, and why poverty is so hard to escape. The authors note that most wealth levels are determined at birth meaning that if one does not have the right start in life, it is difficult to escape poverty. “Moving from poverty to a middle class status is like winning the lotto,” they note, with nine…
METRO Policing plans for the holidays LIAM NGOBENI liam.ngobeni@inl.co.za AROUND 2 600 Tshwane Metro Police officers have been deployed as the city moves into December and the start of the holiday season. MMC for Community Safety, Karen Meyer, said law enforcement officers would be spread out across all regions of the city to ensure safety of residents and visitors. “The metro is at the centre of a road network that takes people from all across the country to their various destinations during the festive season.” Because of the lockdown, there would be stringent and coordinated efforts to ensure that as commuters travel on public transport and other motorists set off, there was safety on the roads. Efforts had to be made to avoid driving Covid-19 infections up as people…
