Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-29 i Pretoria News

As the marigold hues of Namaqualand begin to shimmer with the first blooms of spring, the country welcomes a season of vibrant renewal marked by pleasant weather, blossoming wildflowers, and the return of migratory birds. This transformative period washes away the arid remnants of winter and heralds an inviting climate perfect for outdoor living, and, of course, weddings. Wedding season officially takes centre stage as guests dazzle in a harmonious blend of earthy tones, soft pastels and vibrant pops of colour. For couples looking to tie the knot, South Africa offers a kaleidoscope of stunning locations that are perfect for a spring celebration. From picturesque vineyards to majestic mountain backdrops and adventurous bushveld settings, the country’s diverse landscapes provide an ideal stage for unforgettable nuptials. A magical vineyard setting Franschhoek…

The multi-party coalition government in Tshwane has come under fire for its decision to secure a R1 billion loan from Absa to bolster its operational budget, just months after celebrating a fully-funded budget in July. DA caucus leader Cilliers Brink has slammed the move, saying it contradicts a promise made by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance Eugene Modise during the 2025/2026 budget delivery. Modise assured that the new administration would not take out loans, citing sound city finances. Brink said: “The setting aside of the cleansing levy by the High Court and refusal of leave to appeal leaves the city with a deficit of over R500 million.” He pointed out that the report before the council requests approval for an R800 million short-term loan facility “on a budget…

The recent meeting between the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) and the US Embassy could be a signal of disregard for President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet, with experts saying this is not a good sign for diplomatic clarity. On Friday, the TMF announced on X that it had a meeting with a representative from the US Embassy to prepare for a visit by a delegation from the US. “Today, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation met with a representative from the US Embassy in South Africa to prepare for a delegation from Washington DC that will be paying a courtesy visit to the Foundation next week,’’ said the foundation. The foundation’s spokesperson Anga Jamela refused to comment and share details about the upcoming meeting. However, it is believed that the two had…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has defended his crime-fighting efforts and accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province of ‘crying at the wrong funeral’. Lesufi revealed that his administration has delivered more than 700 vehicles donated to the SAPS, while also ensuring the installation of 12,000 CCTV cameras, among his list of crime-fighting interventions. Lesufi was reacting to the DA, which, on Wednesday, delivered a memorandum to his office, demanding urgent action to address “escalating crime rates” in the province. The DA further claimed that many of Gauteng’s 144 police stations are severely ill-equipped to deal with rising crime challenges. The party has cited deficiencies in infrastructure, staffing levels, vehicle availability, and inadequate holding cell capacity. DA provincial chairperson, Solly Msimanga, led the protest, openly accusing Lesufi of failing the…

As the countdown begins for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has made a bold inclusion in his final 23-man squad: young and promising Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi. At just 19 years old, Mbokazi is already carving a name for himself and is reportedly viewed by Broos as having the potential to shine on European soil. Having quickly established himself as a central figure in the Pirates’ defence since his promotion in January, Mbokazi has been instrumental in the club’s pursuits this season. In addition to his surge in performance, he has also been appointed one of the deputy captains for the current campaign, leading the team with composure and skill on several occasions. His remarkable journey has seen him traverse the…

Kaizer Chiefs might not have beaten Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night, but their goalless draw offered proof of progress – a disciplined display that suggested Amakhosi are finally narrowing the gap on the champions. For the past seven years, Sundowns have dictated the rhythm of South African football. They have bullied opponents into submission with possession, pressed with precision and suffocated teams with quality in every department. In that same period, Chiefs have looked like a club trying to rebuild while constantly tripping over their own feet. But Wednesday’s clash showed a new face of Amakhosi under Nasreddine Nabi. It was not a vintage attacking display, yet it was disciplined, structured and brave enough to hold its own against a team that has made winning look routine. The defensive shape…

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said his side were “completely lost” during an embarrassing League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby on Wednesday that heaped more pressure on the Portuguese coach. League Two side Grimsby won a marathon penalty shootout 12-11 after a 2-2 draw. After a woeful first half, United trailed 2-0 to goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren. Bryan Mbeumo had sparked a late rally from the Red Devils with his first goal for the club before Harry Maguire’s header forced a shootout. But after Matheus Cunha missed the chance to win the tie, Mbeumo hit the bar with the decisive spot-kick. “I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch,” said Amorim in a scathing critique of his squad. “One team can…

People travel for various reasons, often searching for joy and meaningful experiences. Scientists from Cornell University have found that travelling offers lasting happiness, surpassing the temporary joy from material wealth. The emotions tied to purchases fade over time, while travel memories pump enduring happiness into everyday life. In a society increasingly focused on meaningful moments, travel and happiness share a profound connection. Experiences gained through travel, such as improved mental well-being, new perspectives and personal growth, often result in a greater sense of happiness. Taking a break from life’s stresses allows individuals to rejuvenate, promoting calm and well-being. Exposure to diverse cultures, environments and lifestyles broadens horizons and fosters personal growth. Interactions with locals and cultural immersion enhance appreciation for one’s own life. Travel, therefore, significantly contributes to happiness If…

Scrubbing a burnt pot is a hard, dirty job that someone has to do some of the time. It is mostly a thankless and lonely job performed by women as a labour of love for their families. ANC veteran Naledi Pandor was most probably speaking from experience when she brought up this job as a metaphor for the “clean-up and renewal” her party’s leader has been promising since eons ago. The ‘old woman’ – a term of derision allegedly used by some of her comrades against her – spoke truth to power, as they say, at the late party veteran Gertrude Shope’s memorial event on Sunday. The tougher the stains, grime or crust at the bottom of the pot, the tougher the implement one needs to use to clean it…

Concern is mounting over alleged Russian job scams and South African influencers promoting the Alabuga Start programme. As unemployment continues to rise among youth in South Africa, the need to grasp opportunities is a risk youth take to ensure they have food on the table. This comes after influencers, such as social media star and DJ Cyan Boujee, travelled to Russia for a paid influencer campaign and shared a video documenting the trip over the weekend. Her content highlighted aspects of Alabuga’s operations. ​According to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, in October 2024, the Associated Press reported that women from Africa, largely Central and East African countries, were recruited via social media to work in a factory in Russia assembling drones to be launched in Ukraine. Anti-gender-based violence…

As India and Pakistan celebrated another Independence day, the death toll from flash floods across northern Pakistan, Kashmir and India has risen to at least 321 people in past several days is a sobering reminder that the power of nature and the climate crisis Every year with pomp ceremony India and Pakistani’s military might is on full display in a era of hyper nationalism. Yet their citizens face the epicentre of the climate-driven polycrises. This year is particularly poignant given the April border conflict in Kashmir. On Indian Independence Day, Modi addressed the country from New Delhi’s 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a “new normal” that does not differentiate between “terrorists” and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called…

A 24-year-old woman from Musina, in Limpopo, has appeared before the Musina Magistrates’ Court facing a count of rape which was perpetrated against a 13-year-old boy. Limpopo provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the molested boy is a Cameroonian national. “It is alleged that on 22 August 2025, at the Roman Catholic Church shelter, the accused called the victim while he was walking past the said shelter. “The victim went to the accused and found her lying on the ground naked,” said Malabi-Dzhangi. “She started inappropriately touching him and further caused him to have sexual intercourse with her against his will.” The incident was witnessed by one of the residents at the shelter who was going to the dustbin. The witness then informed the caretaker…

The Afrikaner-only community in Kleinfontein has hit back at the City of Tshwane’s recent ultimatum to reapply for township status or face demolition, calling the move politically motivated. The community initially applied for formalisation in 2013, but Tshwane deemed their application to be outdated due to changes in legislation and demanded they resubmit their township application. Tshwane has taken further action, serving the Kleinfontein community with court papers on August 12, warning them that demolition proceedings will be initiated if they fail to reapply for township status. Community spokesperson Dannie de Beer expressed disappointment, saying the city’s demands are unfair, especially when compared to other illegal settlements like Leeufontein, which lacks basic services but has not faced similar action. “We have our own water, electricity distribution, and roads. The difference…

Relations between Israel and Zambia have become increasingly close in recent years, especially after the poor electoral performance of Zambia’s former liberation movement, UNIP. On 20 August, Israel formally reopened its embassy in Lusaka, more than fifty years after it had been shut. This act, set against the haunting backdrop of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, represents a profound moral failure and a direct assault on the principles of human dignity and international law. Israel’s diplomatic footprint in Africa is now deeper, broader, and more sophisticated than at any point in the past half-century. This is primarily due to a carefully calculated long-term strategy, driven by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his close circle. Israel intends to weaken Africa’s long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle and to isolate South…

“Next question, please. Next question. Don’t joke with me, sir, please!” Miguel Cardoso lambasted a journalist who asked him whether the draw on Wednesday night was career-saving. Cardoso guided his Mamelodi Sundowns side to a stalemate against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at a buzzing FNB Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday. They were fortunate to even come away with a point, as Chiefs were the more dominant side on paper, creating clear-cut chances but lacking firepower in the final third. As such, Sundowns’ lacklustre performance has piled more pressure on Cardoso, who came into the match already under fire. The Portugal-born coach was still reeling from losing the MTN8 semi-final to Orlando Pirates after underwhelming performances in both legs. With his team struggling to find consistency across all competitions —…

While the Springboks embark on the Goliath task of battling the All Blacks in back-to-back Tests on New Zealand soil, it’s understandable that most of the discourse will focus on the massive challenge ahead. Still seething from last year’s Rugby Championship and the 2023 Rugby World Cup final outcome against South Africa, the All Blacks have a point to prove, and on home soil, they’ll be tough to break down. But while the Boks and their supporters sharpen their focus on the twin battles in Auckland and Wellington, it would be dangerously short-sighted to overlook what follows those games: a resurgent, unpredictable, and often underestimated Argentina. Los Pumas are no longer the underdogs of old. Definitely not after last weekend’s upset over the All Blacks in front of a fired-up…

EFF President Julius Malema has vehemently rejected Wednesday's Equality Court ruling that found his statements constituted hate speech and incitement to violence, labelling the judgment a “grave distortion of history, philosophy, and the nature of political speech in a democratic society”. The ruling by the Western Cape Division of the Equality Court upheld claims by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and Dante van Wyk against Malema and the EFF. The SAHRC initiated the litigation in November 2022 following public complaints about comments Malema made at a political gathering in Cape Town in October 2022. The court cited these remarks by Malema: “You must never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that, at some point, there must be killing. This is a war between white supremacy and…

International Relations & Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said the G20 Leaders Summit will proceed in November, regardless of whether US President Donald Trump participates. South Africa is set to host the 2025 G20 summit, which will be held in Johannesburg in November 2025. This will mark the bloc’s first gathering on African soil. Lamola spoke at a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, saying there is no clear indication yet on whether the United States will attend, after Trump suggested he might skip the event in protest of what he terms genocide allegations against South Africa. South Africa holds the rotating G20 presidency for 2025, culminating in a November Johannesburg Summit. Officials say the meeting will focus on inclusive economic growth, food security, and artificial intelligence for sustainable development, framed…

Community members, activist groups, and political parties converged outside the Temba Magistrate's Court to stage a protest, demanding justice for 20-year-old Kgaogelo Marota, who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend last Thursday. The accused Antonio Mfana Ngwenya, who allegedly stabbed Marota to death and allegedly attempted to kill his current girlfriend, briefly appeared in court on Monday. The case has been postponed to September 5 for verification of the accused's nationality and bail application. In a shocking twist, the accused posted a video on social media last week, purportedly confessing to the murder, which took place during an altercation at a tavern in Maubane, North West province. Outside the court, protesters voiced their outrage, calling for justice for Marota and demanding that the State deny the accused bail. Ketumile Molekwa,…

TICAD 9: Strengthening partnerships for sustainable development in Africa The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) was held in Yokohama, Japan, on August 22, 2025. This Conference took place at a time of intense economic and security turmoil for Africa. The punitive tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump have exacerbated the economic woes of Africa. U.S. tariffs, varying from ten percent to forty-one percent, have markedly decreased African exports to the United States. The agricultural, automotive, and textile industries, which once profited from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), are now distressed. Factories have closed, and job opportunities are scarcer. Poor economic growth, security concerns, and poor food security are commonplace in many African nations. In some parts, China’s infrastructural and developmental projects have brought…

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya says she will begin repaying the R270 000 she was overpaid during her time as an official in the City of Tshwane in 2019. Moya, who then served as head of the chief whip’s office and later as chief of staff to former mayor Stevens Mokgalapa, is one of 78 senior officials who received benchmarking-related salary adjustments that were later found to be inconsistent with final approved salary bands. In a statement, Moya said, “On 5 July 2019, while serving as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Executive Mayor, I received a once-off payment of R268,975.51. “This formed part of a benchmarking-related salary adjustment applied to 78 senior officials across the City, following a change in the City’s municipal category and the associated…

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria’s dismissal of the City of Tshwane's bid to appeal against a ruling that scrapped the R194 monthly cleansing levy for properties using private waste collectors has been hailed as a decisive victory for the residents. The application for leave to appeal was lodged following the court's ruling in favour of AfriForum on July 31, which overturned the cleansing levy. Residents and businesses have been up in arms over the levy, claiming it is a case of double taxation and unfairly targets those who opt for private waste collection services. Tshwane has one month within which to appeal the judgment, according to municipal spokesperson Selby Bokaba. Bokaba stated that the municipality will consult with senior legal counsel to understand the implications of the court's decision…

GROUND zero. That’s where the Springbok Women’s team will be starting when they face Italy in their crucial Rugby World Cup encounter. The Boks are chasing a historic first-ever spot in the quarterfinals, and victory over the higher-ranked Italians would secure a passage to the playoffs, regardless of the final Pool D encounter against France. Swys de Bruin’s team are brimming with confidence after their 66-6 demolition of South American debutants Brazil in their tournament opener, but are fully aware that the Europeans pose an altogether different challenge. "It was a great start. It's just a sad thing about our sport, knowing that whatever we have done in the last weekend does not matter this weekend. [We're] reminding ourselves to start back from zero again," said Springbok Women’s outside centre…

Stellenbosch FC may not have a derby any more after Cape Town City were relegated at the end of last season, but this weekend’s clash against Mamelodi Sundowns will certainly have a familiar feeling to it. Sundowns have recruited –others would say raided – Stellies’ stocks in recent seasons with a number of high-profile players departing The Maroons for Chloorkop. Playmaker Junior Mendietta kickstarted the trend, although the Argentine midfielder has since left the Pretoria-based club for Saudi Arabia before moving on to Greece. Ace striker Iqraam Rayners then made the switch before midfielder Jayden Adams was also lured up north at the beginning of the year for a reported record R20 million transfer fee. Sundowns were not done yet though as they also recently captured star left-back Fawaaz Basadien…

AT times, the excitement of the country when a prodigious youngster makes waves in domestic cricket could spell the end of a senior player’s career. The fans can be quick to forget what the senior player has done for the country in the past and be swallowed by the endless possibilities that a young cricketer brings with their rise. The same happened when the 17-year-old wicket-keeper batter Karabo Meso showcased her talents in provincial cricket. While the youngster was scoring centuries for fun in high school, many were already earmarking Meso to succeed Sinalo Jafta in the Proteas Women’s squad. Following Lizelle Lee’s retirement, Jafta took over as the main wicket-keeper, but lacked the batting pedigree that Lee had during her time. As a result, when Meso showed far better…