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.
Bayede! HAMBA KAHLE King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu Special funeral for monarch July 14 1948 – March 12 2021 SIHLE MAVUSO sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za TRIBUTES continued to pour in after the death of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini yesterday, aged 72. Being the longest reigning monarch in the 205-year history of the Zulu nation, the king presided over the nation for almost 50 years. President Cyril Ramaphosa has since declared a special funeral for the much-loved king and flags would be flown at half-mast until after the funeral service. A tearful Prince Mbonisi Zulu, who was close to the king, said the death was a devastating blow to the entire Zulu nation. He described him as a loving king who loved Zulu culture and ensured it was upheld at all times. “He was a loving king.…
EDUCATIO Communities urged to protect schools GOITSEMANG TLHABYE goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za PARENTS and communities need to stand up against vandalism and burglaries at schools. In the latest incident in Tshwane, three classrooms at Flavius Mareka High School in Atteridgeville were burnt. It has been alleged that learners were smoking while playing with hand sanitisers in a passageway between classrooms used to store old tables. Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said investigations were under way to determine the exact cause of the fire. However, Matakanye Matakanye, general-secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, said he doubted that the fire would be caused by learners playing with sanitisers and smoking. He said for years stakeholders had been campaigning for communities to stand up and protect schools against acts of violence…
WONDERBOOM AIRPORT Night flights grounded RAPULA MOATSHE rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za African News Agency (ANA) THE CITY of Tshwane’s plans of changing the fortunes of the embattled Wonderboom National Airport were this week dealt a serious blow by the SA Civil Aviation Authority's decision to ground all flights scheduled at night because of faulty runway lighting. This followed an ad hoc inspection conducted on Tuesday by the aviation authority, which discovered that the runway, threshold and end lights were in poor working condition. Spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba said it was also found that the airport was non-compliant with the rescue and fire-fighting requirements. Although it was unclear when the airport would repair the lights, Ledwaba said the authority would visit the facility to validate and lift the suspension "if all concerns have been…
HAWKS ASKED TO STEP IN Department in tender irregularity firing line LIAM NGOBENI liam.ngobeni@inl.co.za THE SECURITY industry has called on the Hawks to investigate allegations of corruption and violation of the Public Finance Management Act at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Association of Private Security Owners of South Africa spokesperson Sindisiwe Changuion claimed the department appointed three companies to provide security services across the country’s courts to the tune of over R2 billion. She said the department called for service providers to submit quotations. But according to Treasury regulations, contracts over R500 000 should go through a normal competitive bidding process. Department spokesperson Stephen Mahlangu said in September last year, the National Treasury granted the department permission to deviate from the normal procurement process to follow a request…
UNLEASHED Kwesta questions leaders in new single MPILETSO MOTUMI mpiletso.motumi@inl.co.za SENZO Vilakazi is best known by his stage name Kwesta – a multi award-winning, “anthem” creating superstar. The Ngud hitmaker is back with his fourth studio album and has already released the first single from the album last Friday. Titled Fire in the Ghetto, the single features Troublle and explores the frustration people who live in the townships “ekasi” have with the government. “The inspiration behind Fire In The Ghetto was frustration and also care, when you feel like the powers that be and the people who are in positions of leadership have turned their backs on ikasi. Especially now with the pandemic, it seems that the ikasi must take care of themselves without the perks of being under the…
SA BREAKDANCING SENSATION On a roll: Courtnaé dances to the beat of her own drum MPILETSO MOTUMI mpiletso.motumi@inl.co.za INTERNATIONALLY-recognised choreographer and DJ Courtnaé Paul is a powerhouse who has grown to be a respected force in the industry. But choreography isn’t something she initially thought she would get into. “To be honest, I didn’t want to be a choreographer, and people are always shocked at that answer. I didn’t know I could dance, it wasn’t really part of my plan at all. I started dancing very late. Most people come out of the womb dancing and going to classes, but for me it was very different.” Paul has a gymnastics, kickboxing andsoccer background,assomeone who has been active all her life. “I started dancing around age 11 or 12 and once…
