Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-07 i Pretoria News

Rome, the Eternal City, was meant to be full of joy with an estimated 30 million travellers expected to descend on it to celebrate its Jubilee year – an event that takes place only four times in a century. Instead, pilgrims have been flung into sombreness as they pray for the health of ailing Pope Francis – known as the heart of the Catholic world – who was first admitted to hospital on February 14 after experiencing difficulties breathing. Local Giacomo Martella, who has lived in the city for the past decade, working as a communications specialist, tells us what it is like living in Rome during these unusual days: “Rome has always been a fascinating yet complicated city. “The atmosphere in Rome at present is a mix of anticipation…

As South Africa’s diplomatic relations with the US continue to deteriorate, the government has still not sent a delegation to quell the diplomatic crisis with the US government, despite president Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcing these plans more than a month ago. According to sources close to the government , Ramaphosa has not sent envoys yet because he fears that US president Donald Trump's administration might snub his delegation. However, SA ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool, at a presentation stated that the US itself was not ready to meet with SA because they had yet to establish the Africa desk following the dismissal of more than 300 White House staffers. The DA recently sent a delegation, represented by the party’s spokesperson in international relations and co-operation, Emma Powell and Andrew…

As Elon Musk’s influence continues to grow in the White House, questions are being raised about the tech billionaire’s power over President Donald Trump. Speaking to IOL, an international relations expert said Musk and Trump’s relationship is fuelled by their white supremist ideologies. Pretoria-born Musk, 54, this year assumed the position of Trump’s senior advisor and was announced as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). From this position, Musk is effectively a “special government employee”, allowing him to move beyond financial disclosures. He is also exempt from a public vetting process. It is no secret that Musk, the father of 14 children with four different women, spent more than $250 million on Trump’s re-election efforts and thus catapulted his questionable path to the Oval Office. With Trump’s backing,…

ANC convener Jeff Radebe of the KZN Provincial Task Team says the party’s poor performance in KwaZulu-Natal, where voter support plummeted from over 50% to just 17%, can be attributed to the arrogance of its previous leadership. This was part of his address at the inaugural meeting of the newly appointed leadership at the ANC provincial house on Wednesday, where a clear agenda was set to restore confidence in the party and address ongoing issues. Radebe, along with Mike Mayabuthu, the appointed co-ordinator, emphasised their commitment to people-centered governance | Hope Ntanzi…

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has dismissed claims he is one of the people looking to secure the Hawks’ top job. This follows media reports indicating that he, along with Shadrack Sibiya, the deputy national police commissioner responsible for crime detection, and Tebello Mosikili, the deputy national police commissioner responsible for policing, were interested in applying for the position. The Hawks’ top job is set to become available in May when current boss Godfrey Lebeya’s term comes to an end. | IOL News…

In a stern address during a meeting between the National Executive and the Gauteng Provincial Executive Council, President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to tackle the failure of governance, financial mismanagement, and crumbling infrastructure in Gauteng. Ramaphosa welcomed Gauteng’s commitment to the strategic priorities of the Medium Term Development Plan, which include driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. However, the President also acknowledged the province's recurring problems. “We intend to face these challenges head-on,” Ramaphosa said. Ramaphosa focused the attention on the importance of co-operative governance, saying that it required that the different spheres of government should cooperate with one another in mutual trust and good faith. “We must assist and support each other, and co-ordinate our actions,” he said. Ramaphosa also…

In between musical performances and panel discussions celebrating the Power of Ten, the 10th annual Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit and Awards brought elegance, insight and frank conversations to the City of Tshwane as throngs of women leaders from various industries contributed to wide-ranging topical discussions. Panel discussions at the summit on Wednesday featured prominent leaders who spoke passionately about their journeys and the importance of women’s representation in leadership roles. The conversations were not just about celebrating achievements but also addressed pressing issues such as gender equality, access to education, and economic empowerment. The attendees engaged with the discussions eagerly, unearthing insights that resonate with the collective ambition to uplift and empower future generations of women leaders. One of those attending was former Miss SA and the 2019…

SEVERAL provinces including Gauteng, Western Cape, Limpopo and the Free State are set to lose hundreds of millions of Rands allocated by the National Treasury to build houses, upgrade informal settlements and improve education infrastructure due to non-expenditure. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced this week that Gauteng will lose R300 million in the human settlement development grant (HSDG) while the Western Cape’s R200 million allocation will also be stopped together with the Free State, which will lose R50 million.In the informal settlement upgrading partnership grant (ISUPG), allocations of R150m and R100m to Gauteng and the Western Cape, respectively, will be stopped. Godongwana said both decisions followed a revised allocation by the National Department of Human Settlements. Limpopo is set to lose almost R188m from its education infrastructure grant (EIG) after…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has told President Cyril Ramaphosa that if the province’s G-13 challenges, including crime, corruption, fixing roads and creating jobs, are not tackled, their discussions would be meaningless. Lesufi made these remarks on the first day of Ramaphosa’s visit as he engaged with the Gauteng provincial government over difficulties facing the province and its metros, including district municipalities. The session is being held at the Johannesburg Metro Council Chambers. These challenges have significantly impacted residents and have been ongoing for years. Metro in the province, including the City of Joburg, City of Tshwane, and the Ekurhuleni have gained notoriety for their poor state, with many battling with corruption and poor service delivery. Lesufi addressed Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet, along with ministers and deputy ministers,…

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has again defended the McDonald’s branded foldable desks, stating that the reality of 13.5 million learners and the current budget simply cannot meet the demands of the basic education sector. Gwarube was addressing the members of the National Assembly, on Tuesday, when the issue of branded foldable desks came up amid ongoing outrage from citizens and civil organisations. The St Paul’s Primary school in Cape Town, Western Cape, was handed over the McDonald’s branded foldable desks. The desks’ branding has sparked outrage and debate, with critics accusing the department and McDonald’s of using schoolchildren as walking billboards. Some political parties have also argued that the desks are too heavy for small children to manage to and from school every day, and that they further stigmatise…

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has upheld the last will and testament of the late Robert Stanton, marking a crucial legal victory for his fiancée, Alana Berenice Perumal. The decision reinforces Stanton’s intentions documented in his amended will, despite its unsigned status at the time of his passing. Stanton passed away in April 2023 while he was engaged to Perumal, with their wedding set for later in the year, in December. The couple’s relationship blossomed in January 2021, following the end of Stanton’s previous relationship with Claudia Louise van der Colf. The case revolved around the amended will Stanton wrote in July 2022. The pivotal date came shortly after he underwent hip replacement surgery, during which his health began to decline. With Perumal present, Stanton made significant revisions…

A Pretoria-based group, Bittereinders says lobby group AfriForum has not told the entire truth in its campaigns in the United States regarding the conditions of white South African citizens in comparison with the lives of the majority black people in South Africa. Last week, Bittereinders unveiled its “Not USA, but You SA” campaign in Pretoria, which was accompanied by a braai and a large billboard. Bittereinders argues that it does not believe Afrikaners in South Africa are victims, and they should not play the victims. In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, co-founder of Bittereinders Johan Erasmus said while it is factual to state that there is “a major problem” with rural safety across South Africa, however the issue is not politically motivated. “There is a problem with rural safety.…

Now that the weight of his historic achievement has finally sunk in, newly crowned SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo got to relive his “surreal” golfing triumph at the rain-battered Durban Country Club at the weekend. The 27-year-old golfer, who grew up in Lenasia, in the south of Johannesburg, became the first golfer of colour to win SA’s national open. He beat England’s Laurie Canter on the first play-off hole on Sunday. Apartheid history It was at the same venue where legendary golfer Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum had to endure the humiliation almost 62 years ago of receiving his prize for winning the Natal Open outside in the rain after he wasn’t allowed in the clubhouse. “I’m very aware of the story of Papwa and what has happened at Durban Country Club.…

The Bulls will be licking their wounds over the next two weeks after their dramatic defeat to the Stormers last Saturday, perhaps feeling as if they don’t want to see a rugby ball over that period at all. And that would be totally understandable, given the enormous challenges Jake White and his team have had to endure in their 2024/25 campaign. Stormers fans would’ve rejoiced at beating their arch-rivals at Loftus Versfeld, especially after a four-match losing streak. However, there is still real hope at the end of a torturous season that the Bulls could end up with not only one, but two trophies by mid-June. Yes, that’s right – and no, I am not a Bulls supporter all of a sudden! If White plays his cards right and makes…

Double World Cup winner and Springbok Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen is excited about the budding talent at No 8 for the national side ahead of the new season. But he says someone like Jasper Wiese, currently playing in Japan, should not be forgotten just because he is out of sight. The Boks will have a host of young and talented players to select as part of experimental sides when they start the season against the Barbarians (28 June), Italy (5 and 12 July) and Georgia (19 July). Players like Cameron Hanekom and Mpilo Gumede at the Bulls, the Stormers’ Evan Roos, Phepsi Buthelezi at the Sharks, and the Lions’ Francke Horn have excelled for their franchises in the United Rugby Championship. Hanekom and Roos have represented South Africa, and will…

Think the centre of great food, historical sights and Vespa adventures. Rome is often referred to as the City of Seven Hills due to its geographic location, and also as the “Eternal City”. It is generally considered to be the cradle of Western civilisation and Western Christian culture, and the centre of the Catholic Church. If you are visiting Rome, here are some unusual and also some classic things to do. 1. Eat gelato for breakfast Forget croissants and cappuccinos. When in Rome, you start your day with gelato. Yes, breakfast gelato is a thing here, and it’s socially acceptable. Walk into any gelateria, point at the most absurdly colourful flavours (pistachio, stracciatella, or tiramisu), and embrace the judgment-free joy of dessert before noon. Pro tip: Double scoop. Always. 2.…

The DA has launched legal action against the Expropriation Act following its week-long working visit to the US to meet President Donald Trump’s administration to address diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US. The party has announced it has concluded its visit to the US. Trump has blasted the South African government for discriminating against Afrikaners through the act by President Cyril Ramaphosa and has offered them refuge in the US. | Simon Majadibodu…

Lesotho was taken aback by US President Donald Trump’s mockery of the southern African nation, its foreign minister said on Wednesday, as the country’s main LGBTQ rights organisation denied receiving funds from Washington. Trump called Lesotho a country “nobody has ever heard of” as he defended his sweeping cuts in aid during an address to Congress on Tuesday. He singled out a past US aid project of “$8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho”. “Which nobody has ever heard of,” he added, as Republican lawmakers laughed. The Lesotho government was “shocked and embarrassed” by the comments, Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane told AFP. “We did not expect a head of state to refer to another sovereign nation in such a manner,” he said. The US has an…

THE Constitutional Court yesterday heard arguments in Corruption Watch’s bid to have President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) chairperson and commissioners from March 2023 declared invalid. The civil society organisation also wants the apex court to declare that Parliament, comprising of the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on women, youth and persons with disabilities, failed to comply with its constitutional obligation to facilitate reasonable public involvement before recommending persons to be appointed as members of the chapter-nine institution. Corruption Watch also asked the declaration of invalidity of the CGE commissioners suspended for a period of 18 months to enable National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza to reconduct the appointment process in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution. In 2023, Ramaphosa appointed chairperson Advocate Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale…

South Africa’s Road Accident Fund (RAF) has been a lifeline for many South Africans who were injured on our roads, or lost bread- winners, but proposed changes to the system could radically change the way that payouts are determined. The proposed Standardised Compensation Formula aims to bring more fairness, efficiency and transparency into the system through the creation of an interactive online platform that would automate the calculation of settlement amounts based on a set of standardised formulae. The financially embattled RAF argues that this is necessary given the inefficiencies and procedural delays that plague the current system, which is heavily reliant on human intervention. The organisation believes the current process is compromised by the subjective inputs from medical, legal and actuarial professionals, leading to inequality in settlements, particularly among…

Dylan Naidoo’s win in the SA Open last week at Durban Country Club, has lit a fire of desire for a new generation of South African golfers of colour, according to fellow professional Toto Thimba Jnr. The 39-year-old Thimba Jnr turned pro in 2007 and has seen Naidoo rise up through the ranks. While the number of black Africans playing golf in South Africa in the amateur and professional ranks is still staggeringly low, it’s important for youngsters to see sports stars who look like them to find inspiration. This is a point Thimba Jnr drove home, much like his booming drives on the fairways. “It’s an inspiration what Dylan Naidoo did,” Thimba Jnr said ahead of the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club, which started yesterday. “He inspired a…

Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted his team had been extremely fortunate in their 1-0 win away to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last 16 first leg on Wednesday night as he heaped praise on goal-scoring hero Harvey Elliott. “If we had a draw over here, we would have already been the lucky one. That is clear for everyone,” Slot accepted after his side withstood a pummelling from the hosts in Paris. PSG dominated the first leg of the heavyweight last-16 tie, but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was in inspired form – and the visitors snatched an unlikely victory to take back to Anfield for the return as substitute Elliott scored in the 87th minute. “They were the much better team today, especially in the first half,” Slot said of…