Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-01 i Pretoria News

Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has said that he had not personally encountered political interference in investigations, emphasising that his role is to oversee crime investigations rather than conduct them. His comments follow the explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi accused senior police officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on leave, of obstructing politically sensitive investigations and dismantling a political killings task team. He alleged that the unit had uncovered links between a powerful drug cartel and high-ranking politicians, police officers, and prosecutors. The top cop also claimed Mchunu arranged a private meeting with himself, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, and Mkhwanazi to “clear the bad blood” between them. Sibiya was also placed on leave…

South Africa and the African continent must confront current global economic shifts head-on with a clear-eyed, values-driven, and pragmatic foreign policy that repositions Africa at the centre of global trade and diplomacy, said Mcebisi Jonas, special envoy to the United States. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation on Tuesday, Jonas urged a clear-eyed approach to national interest and a united national vision as the world grapples with new US tariffs that were set to take effect on August 1. He called for reform of multilateral cooperation and stronger partnerships for development, stating that the global crisis presents “an opportunity for change”. He urged South Africa and the continent to take advantage of its demographic edge as the world’s youth population increasingly shifts towards Africa. “By the…

Residents of long-standing illegal townships in Tshwane, some dating back to 2002, may be required to pay for bulk services like water and sanitation infrastructure if the municipal council decides to formally recognise them as townships. The City of Tshwane has identified at least 17 developments, including luxury mansion projects, as illegal townships. These areas include Leeuwfontein, Kleinfontein, Moshate Gardens, Marula View, Mooikloof, Wallmannsthal, Haakoringboom, Onderstepoort, Elansfontein Plots, and Moloto City. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya acknowledged the complexity of the issue, which has been ongoing since 2002. “The complexity has become so large that we have had the problem for so long that we can’t then resolve it within two months,” she said. She explained that a sub-mayoral committee has been established to address the issue of the illegal townships…

African giant faces an unprecedented food crisis amid rising instability The ‘Giant of Africa’ is in bad shape. In a massive humanitarian emergency, over 30 million Nigerians are facing hunger in the worst food shortage in the country’s history. This crisis not only places Nigeria in peril but also poses a threat to regional stability, according to David Stevenson, the Nigerian Country Director for the World Food Programme. Nigeria is a hotbed of instability. The danger of Jihadist insurgency is ever-present, the economy continues to decline, and the hazardous level of political corruption and attrition is eroding trust in the government. The current administration’s response to these interlinked crises will have significant consequences for the people of Nigeria, the well-being of West Africa, and the legacy of President Bola Tinubu.…

“Good luck with their idea.” That is how ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont has hit back to speculation about a potential motion of no confidence against City of Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. Beaumont said this during a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, where the party launched the Tshwane mayor’s performance tracker. The tracker will show how the city is performing under Moya’s leadership. He explained that the tracker is updated in real time with data from the city, allowing residents to monitor Tshwane’s progress through the party’s website. The tool tracks key areas such as financial stability, infrastructure, economic revitalisation, safety and cleanliness, governance, and customer care. Responding to speculation about a motion of no confidence, Beaumont said it has become a trend in South Africa for people…

A forensic investigation into the R836 million Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant project tender has exposed widespread procurement irregularities, fraud, and governance failures within the Independent Development Trust (IDT). The project aimed to install oxygen plants at 60 state hospitals nationwide. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson on Tuesday released the findings and recommended disciplinary action against IDT chief executive officer Tebogo Malaka, general manager for supply chain management Dr Molebedi Sisi, and other officials. He has also taken steps to implement consequence management, including referring the matter to the Hawks and meeting with the newly appointed IDT board. He reaffirmed his commitment to building a capable and ethical state, directing the department to implement all report recommendations to restore the IDT as a trusted partner…

Keanu Cupido thought he’d be flying out to the United States for an all-expenses paid holiday when he made Mamelodi Sundowns’ final squad for the Fifa Club World Cup. But rather than finding himself soaking up the sunshine of Florida, Cupido became an integral part of coach Miguel Cardoso’s plans. The Portugal-born coach surprisingly drafted Cupido into the starting lineup from the onset, and ended up starting the next two group matches too. Cupido, speaking on the sidelines of the MTN8 launch this week ahead of their quarter-final tie at home to Richards Bay Sunday, admitted he was shocked after getting the nod to start. “It’s not about (walking) straight into the team. It’s been about working behind the scenes. So, it’s just hard work that paid off,” the…

The much-anticipated 2025/26 campaign kicks off with the season’s curtain-raiser – the MTN8 – where the top eight teams from last season will battle it out for early bragging rights and momentum in what promises to be another demanding campaign. Defending champions Orlando Pirates will be aiming for a historic fourth successive title, having dominated the competition over the last three seasons. Their 3-1 triumph over Stellenbosch FC in last year’s final not only extended their legacy in local cup competitions but also solidified their place among recent greats. However, with a revamped squad and a new coach in Abdeslam Ouaddou, there may be a window of opportunity for the chasing pack to finally halt their dominance. Most clubs have reinforced significantly during the off-season, and the MTN8 presents the…

What does a host do when an important but discourteous guest won’t properly RSVP? Should the host continually follow up with polite reminders? Or just proceed with the assumption that the VVIP is not attending, while leaving the door open for a last-minute change of heart? President Cyril Ramaphosa, the host of the Group of 20 leaders meeting in November, has this predicament with US President Donald Trump. Instead of accepting or turning down the invitation, Trump has continued to torment and confuse. This week he said he’d “probably send someone else”, repeating the lies he’s come to be known for about our country. While Trump simply wants to “make America wealthy again”, Ramaphosa has an even more urgent job of first rescuing our beleaguered economy. Ramaphosa, therefore, needs to…

The Freedom Front Plus has intensified its campaign to petition the City of Tshwane to declare Region 4 a disaster area due to the severe sinkhole problem, following a recent sinkhole development in Centurion. The party has collected 3 500 physical signatures by visiting schools and engaging with the community, and has also launched an online campaign to gather more signatures. FF Plus PR councillor Wesley Jacobs emphasised that the petition process is transparent, as no ID information is being collected. "I submitted all the information to the council," he said. He cautioned that other political parties are now copying their approach, starting petitions on th same issue, but alleged that these parties are exploiting the issue for political gain by collecting ID information. According to him, there are currently…

DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos, Armand Swart, and Don Tindleni were killed using the same AK-47, and all died in the same way after they were killed in a hail of bullets at different times, arguably by the same suspects. This was revealed by the South African Police outside the Alexandra Magistrates Court on Tuesday during the appearance of alleged hitmen Musa Kekana, Michael Pule Tau, and Floyd Mabusela, who are now charged with the murder of Don Tindleni. Speaking outside Alexandra Magistrates Court, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the guns used to kill DJ Sumbody are the same as the ones used for DJ Vintos, Armand Swart, and Don Tindleni. The court postponed the bail application of the alleged mastermind behind Oupa Sefoka’s murder, popularly known as DJ Sumbody to…

Many South Africans failed to appreciate the relevance of the Liberation Movements Summit, held in Johannesburg from 25 to 28 July. In an era marked by widespread public disappointment and growing criticism, the very premise of such a gathering appeared, they argued, outdated if not entirely obsolete. Movements such as South Africa’s ANC, Mozambique’s FRELIMO, Namibia’s SWAPO, Angola’s MPLA and others are not conventional political parties. Their legitimacy was not conferred solely through elections. It was earned through generations of collective resistance, sacrifice and clarity of purpose in the face of colonialism and apartheid. They were forged in the trenches of anti-colonial struggle and shaped by the convictions of those who believed in dignity, equality and justice. However, in the years since the dawn of democracy, these once-powerful connections to…

Nonkululeko Mlaba was the Queen of the Night at a glittering Cricket SA Awards at the Emperors Palace yesterday evening. The Proteas Women’s star scooped four prizes after being crowned SA Women’s Player of the Year, Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, T20 Player of the Year and Women’s Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC. Mlaba, who is nicknamed Lefty, was consistent across all formats, starring with the ball in Proteas’ solitary Test match, claiming a maiden 10-wicket haul, while she also bagged 15 ODI wickets at an average of 22, and a further 16 T20I wickets at 18.62. She spearheaded the Proteas’ charge to a successive ICC T20 World Cup final in the UAE last year, where the left-arm spinner finished as the tournament’s second top wicket-taker with 12 scalps…

The City of Tshwane has adopted a new sustainable waste management strategy for its 185 informal settlements, despite opposition parties’ concerns that the plan lacks a financial framework to ensure its successful implementation. The strategy, adopted during a council meeting at Tshwane House, focuses on cleanliness, recycling, and composting. Despite warnings from the DA and Freedom Front Plus that the strategy lacks a financial plan to support its implementation, the council is pressing ahead with it. FF Plus councillor Deham Hamse highlighted “fundamental flaws” in the report, citing a lack of conditional funding and no provision for adjustments under Section 28 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). “Implementing the strategy in its current form may lead to irregular or fruitless expenditure,” he warned. DA councillor Yvonne Dzumba echoed similar…

US President Donald Trump has said he will probably not attend the G20 Summit in South Africa, citing “very bad policies” as the reason. “They have some very bad policies… A lot of people are being killed. I’d like to, but I don’t think I will.” This remark reflects Trump’s ongoing criticism of South Africa, particularly his repeated references to unsubstantiated claims that Pretoria has targeted white farmers – a narrative the South African government has consistently and categorically rejected. Further signalling strained diplomatic ties, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not attend the July G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Durban, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly opted out of a G20 foreign ministers’ summit in Johannesburg earlier this year. During the early months of his second term, Trump…

The City of Tshwane's MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, has clarified discussions with the Iranian embassy regarding the use of public properties, including the underutilised Pretoria City Hall. This comes amid public interest and speculation about a potential partnership with the embassy. The controversy erupted after a recent media report suggested Iran might be involved in repairing and leasing the building. DA caucus leader Cilliers Brink expressed concern over potential Iranian involvement, saying the matter had never been discussed or approved by the city council. "The DA's written question about the dealings between Tshwane and the Iranian Embassy will have to be answered at the August meeting of the municipal council," Brink said. According to Morodi, the city received a formal letter from the Iranian embassy's cultural…

South Africa’s winter has long echoed historic burdens, most notably the 1976 student uprising and the July 2021 unrest. The latter, labelled an insurrection by the Ramaphosa-led state, served as a politically expedient move, deflecting accountability while exposing racist violence in Phoenix, state brutality, and broken democratic promises. But July 2025 signals a new chapter, marked by exposures, high-level suspensions, and institutional decay, especially within the South African Police Service (SAPS). This “Winter of Discontent” reveals not just negligence but a disturbing nexus of criminal syndicates, compromised police structures, and political interference. This is about more than corruption; it is about the erosion of command and a nation caught between exposure and accountability. At the centre of this storm is KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. His explosive 6…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has come under scrutiny after declaring two luxury properties with a combined value of R65 million, despite earning just over R3 million annually. His declarations include a R28.9m valued Constantia estate in Cape Town, a property he previously claimed was owned by his son-in-law’s company. Within a year, Mashatile declared at least two properties, including a Cape Town estate in Constantia, which he had previously denied owning. Mashatile listed the properties, one in Constantia, Cape Town, and another in Waterfall, Midrand, Gauteng, in the latest Parliamentary Register of Members’ Interests. What has further raised eyebrows is that in last year’s register, Mashatile declared smaller properties: a residential plot in Midrand measuring 1,000 by 1,200 square meters, and another in Sandton, measuring 600 by 800 square meters.…

SuperSport United, a club whose ‘birth’ coincided with the dawn of democracy, has died? Or has it? Recent developments surrounding Siwelele United – the club formed by Calvin Lee John, who bought SuperSport’s status – suggest Matsatsantsa a Pitori may not be dead just yet. When the PSL released the fixtures for the upcoming Betway Premiership season, Siwelele’s home matches were scheduled for Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville – the same venue SuperSport had used. Strange, isn’t it? A club reportedly formed to revive the defunct Bloemfontein Celtic now playing its matches in Pretoria. But it doesn’t end there. Granted, logic and even PSL rules dictate that the employees of a club whose status is purchased are absorbed into the new entity. PSL Chairman Irvin Khoza has previously stated that…