Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-05 i Pretoria News

As the summer sun makes its presence felt, it beckons South Africans outdoors, luring us to swop comfortable couches for lush hiking trails, serene lakes, and family camping spots. Finding the perfect activities to beat the heat while enjoying the beauty of nature with friends and family is essential. Whether you prefer the thrill of paddling on tranquil waters, the serenity of hiking through lush trails, or the adventure of camping under the stars, there are countless ways to enjoy the season while keeping cool. Here’s a guide to some of the best activities and destinations to help you make the most of your summer. Hiking in the heart of Durban: Virginia Bush Nestled within Durban North, Virginia Bush offers an accessible oasis from the bustling city. With its well-maintained…

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he won’t go to jail for something he didn’t do. He also would not take responsibility for fitting blue lights on vehicles linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s companies. This was during cross-examination when Mkhwanazi was pressed about his involvement in registering vehicles and installing blue lights, with commission counsel suggesting he “facilitated” the process. Mkhwanazi sparked laughter at the commission when he equated “facilitation” with jail time. He has constantly objected to the use of “facilitation” in reference to the role he played to source vehicles donations from Matlala. “I can’t agree to leave my kids and go to jail for something I didn’t do. I didn’t put blue lights. I…

The United States has formally assumed the 2026 G20 presidency and, in a State Department statement, pledged to “return the G20 to focusing on its core mission of driving economic growth and prosperity to produce results.” Under the US agenda, the 2026 presidency will prioritise cutting regulatory burdens, securing energy supply chains, and driving technological innovation. The US presidency takes place amid unusually sharp diplomatic tension with South Africa – and a highly unusual transfer of the G20 presidency. The outgoing South African presidency did not hand over the G20 leadership at the 2025 summit in Johannesburg, refusing to pass the gavel to a junior US diplomat and instead arranging a low-key handover at Dirco offices in Pretoria. Ahead of the summit, South Africa made it clear that it would…

The City of Tshwane is liable for damages to Crawdaddy’s restaurant in Centurion after the food outlet suffered a loss in profit due to a massive sinkhole in front of its premises. This comes after the city faced several lawsuits, including that of Crawdaddy’s, following allegations that it dragged its heels in fixing the sinkholes that erupted around Centurion some years ago. In 2022 and 2023, Beknor CC, trading as Crawdaddy’s Centurion, obtained court orders from the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that the city had to compensate it for the profit losses the restaurant incurred. The judgments were obtained by default as the city was not in court to oppose them. While it did, meanwhile, compensate the outlet, the city recently returned to court to have the default judgments rescinded.…

‘The ballot is failing as a credible instrument of people’s power and democratic change’ The coup in Guinea-Bissau is yet another blazing signal of Africa’s deepening democratic fragility. The very notion and practice of people’s power, which was the early foundation of Africa’s post-independence, has been decimated. Power elites, military power grabs, and constitutional coups have warped the architecture of democracy. The ballot is failing as a credible instrument of people’s power and democratic change. On November 26, just hours before the election results were expected to be released, military elements in Guinea-Bissau seized power through the bullet, not the ballot. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and senior political figures were instantly arrested. Borders shut, and a curfew imposed. The military claimed that the coup was essential to safeguard the country…

In a year that will be remembered as a turning point for South African women’s rugby, the Springbok Women have done more than make history — they have captured the imagination of a nation. Their run to the 2025 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in England, the first in the team’s history, was not just a sporting milestone but a testament to years of belief and determination. For a side that has often battled for resources, attention, and respect, 2025 has become the year in which everything clicked. At the heart of this rise is a coaching trio who refused to accept the constraints they had to perform under: Swys de Bruin, Laurian Johannes-Haupt, and Franzel September. Their combined influence has reshaped not only the team’s rugby identity but also the…

The Champions and Challenge Cups kick off this weekend, and the Highveld will host two matches when the Bulls take on champions Bordeaux at 5.15pm on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld, and the Lions entertain Benetton at 3pm at Ellis Park. Adding rich flavour to the fixtures is the return of the international players from the November Autumn Series in Europe. We look at five players who could influence the outcome of the matches. Handre Pollard (Bulls) After six years in Europe, Pollard is back at the Blue Bulls union that launched his brilliant career. During his time away from Pretoria, he has been key to the Springboks winning two World Cups. But this year, the 31-year-old dropped down the flyhalf pecking order to third behind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok.…

South Africa is a treasure trove of exciting water activities that cater to every adventurer and relaxation seeker. From the majestic waters in Cape Town to Durban, there’s something for everyone. Here are some must-try experiences that promise fun and unforgettable memories. Cape Town Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP): A fantastic way to get close to the water. Whether you’re young or old, it’s an activity everyone can enjoy. Head to Simon’s Town Quays, a stunning spot where you can paddle through beautiful waters, surrounded by playful seals and elegant yachts. On sunny days, the colourful kelp forests come alive with fascinating sea creatures that add to the visual delight. River tubing: This is for those who crave a bit more excitement. River tubing in Kleinmond is the ideal choice. Nestled between…

Last week, in these columns, I focused on what the shameless and unscrupulous head of the White House could not do. But I should have worried myself more about what the 47th President of the US is capable of. Unfortunately for us fellow South Africans, there is very little that is beyond Donald Trump. And he has wasted no time and responded in kind to the disrespect and the “we won’t be bullied” attitude from our president, Cyril Ramaphosa. It felt good to laugh as Trump emerged with a bloody nose after the closing of our African G20. But we are reeling from Trump’s backlash now. Unsurprisingly, he has reacted with the ruthlessness he has come to be known for at home and abroad. Ramaphosa has been repeating his standard…

The Department of Basic Education has reported a marked increase in the number of former Afrikaans Model C schools adopting English as a medium of instruction. The move, aimed at accommodating a more diverse learner population across the country, was highlighted on Tuesday during a briefing to the Basic Education Portfolio Committee by Deputy Director-General Simone Geyer. The department was briefing the committee on the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act’s (BELA) sections dealing with language, admissions, and Grade R. Geyer said the shift aligns with a trend where Afrikaans-medium schools are beginning to embrace English. “The data indicates a nationwide trend of Afrikaans-medium schools introducing English instruction, which is a good thing to accommodate as a movement of learners from different parts of the country who are…

In two separate high-stakes operations, police seized a total of eight bags of explosives valued at more than R2.5 million, arresting a woman in Tshwane and two foreign nationals along Limpopo’s N1. Authorities confirmed the incidents are unrelated, highlighting the ongoing vigilance of law enforcement in preventing potentially catastrophic crimes. The first incident occurred in Limpopo’s Capricorn district early on Friday, November 28, when members of Polokwane SAPS International Airport were conducting routine crime-prevention operations along the N1 North. Officers stopped a Toyota Quantum pulling a trailer with Gauteng registration plates and discovered seven bags of explosives. Following the discovery,both male suspects, aged between 45 and 50, were immediately arrested. Ledwaba, the Limpopo provincial spokesperson, said the explosives, the vehicle, and the trailer were confiscated as part of the ongoing…

Ernst Roets, executive director of controversial think tank Lex Libertas, has come under mounting scrutiny. He claims that the White House’s decision to pause global refugee admissions, while exempting Afrikaners due to alleged persecution, highlights South Africa’s worsening crises. But critics have challenged both the basis and implications of his claims. Roets said Washington’s move underscored crumbling conditions that could no longer be dismissed. “The White House’s announcement that the United States will pause refugee admissions globally, with an exception for Afrikaners citing persecution in South Africa, highlights once again the deep crises facing the country.” Roets argued that the root causes of such international alarm cannot be resolved through political spin. “This development reflects issues that cannot be resolved through denial, scapegoating or political messaging,” he said. His remarks…

The countdown to the first 48-team World Cup begins in earnest today as the draw for the 2026 finals takes place in Washington, with Donald Trump set to dominate much of the attention. The most logistically complex World Cup in history will be held across North America from June 11 to July 19, with 16 more teams added to the global showpiece, up from the 32 nations involved in Qatar in 2022. Today's ceremony, at the Kennedy Center on the banks of the Potomac River, will be a star-studded event, but Trump will take centre stage. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump, including several visits to the White House. The US president is widely expected to be the first ever recipient of the FIFA Peace…

Lando Norris will battle his own nerves as much as his rivals’ speed, as he bids to end Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as F1 world champion in Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After two weekends of self-inflicted setbacks, championship leader Norris and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri need an error-free event to ensure Red Bull’s number one cannot complete a spectacular end-of-season recovery in glorious style. For the first time since a four-way scrap at the final race in Abu Dhabi in 2010, the title will be decided by a contest involving more than two drivers, with McLaren, in particular, nervously glancing in their mirrors for Verstappen. Norris has a 12-point lead on Verstappen ahead of the finale and a 16-point advantage on team-mate Piastri, and needs to finish…

Over the past decade, when India hosts South Africa for a ODI series, it is almost guaranteed to go right down to the wire. Who can ever forget the five-match series in 2015, where the AB de Villiers-captained South Africa beat the MS Dhoni-led India 3-2, winning the fifth and final match to seal what was a highly entertaining series? In engagements with the media, Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada still refers to that series as the best he has been involved in his career. These past five days, the two teams, under different leaders in South Africa’s Temba Bavuma and India’s KL Rahul, have produced fireworks of the same calibre in Ranchi and Raipur. The ongoing three-match series is currently deadlocked, with each side having one win. The series…

Despite some inclement weather conditions, this year’s African Bank Soweto Marathon – affectionately known as The People’s Race – was a record-breaking success. The road race attracted an impressive 18 000 runners – placing it firmly alongside major national races such as the Comrades Marathon. Athletes from across South Africa, the continent and abroad, including entrants from France, Lesotho, Zambia and Kenya, filled Soweto’s historic streets with energy and excitement. The race began under challenging conditions, with early rain giving way to mist and cloud. Showers returned around 6:30am before clearing as runners crossed the finish line. Despite the weather, participants pressed on with remarkable determination – a testament to the resilience that has made the Soweto Marathon one of the country’s most beloved sporting events. Among the 18 000…

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delivered one of Washington’s strongest public criticisms of South Africa’s post-apartheid governance, arguing that the country abandoned the foundations laid by South Africa’s founding democratic president Nelson Mandela, and has paid a heavy economic and social price. Rubio said: “South Africa entered the post-Cold War era with strong institutions, excellent infrastructure, and global goodwill. It possessed many of the world’s most valuable resources, some of the best agricultural land on the planet, and was located around one of the world’s key trading routes. And in Nelson Mandela, South Africa had a leader who understood that reconciliation and private sector driven economic growth were the only path to a nation where every citizen could prosper. “Sadly, Mandela’s successors have replaced reconciliation with redistributionist…

The countdown to the Tshwane Tourism Showcase 2026 has officially begun, and momentum across the tourism community is building fast. On Friday, 23 January 2026, the CSIR International Convention Centre will transform into a powerful hub of collaboration, inspiration, and opportunity as businesses from every corner of Tshwane’s tourism sector come together under one roof. Hosted by the Tshwane Tourism Association (TTA) in partnership with the City of Tshwane, this year’s Showcase is more than an expo – it’s a celebration of shared purpose, resilience, and renewal. It’s where the city’s accommodation establishments, attractions, travel service providers, and suppliers showcase their best, exchange ideas, and spark new partnerships for a stronger tourism economy. “Our theme for 2026 is building a safer, stronger capital for tourism,” says TTA Chairperson Susan Marais.…

A cursory review of the African National Congress ahead of the 5th National General Council (NGC), scheduled for 8–12 December 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, forces us to return to the essential question of whether the movement still possesses the organisational stamina, ideological coherence, and moral authority to lead a society undergoing profound structural transition. The NGC convenes at a time when the ANC is simultaneously confronting electoral pressure, governance fatigue, and a shifting public mood that demands results rather than rhetoric. This year’s NGC takes place within the context of a movement whose majoritarian hegemony has been violently slashed after the humiliating outcome of the 29 May National and Provincial Elections. The 2026 National Local Government Elections now present themselves as an existential threat,…

The leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC), Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana, will remain behind bars after his bail application was postponed during an appearance before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Sandlana informed the court that he was not ready to proceed with his bail application, prompting the magistrate to roll the matter over to 6 March 2026 for further investigations. “The case against the leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church, Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana, 64, was postponed to 6 March 2026 for further investigations because Sandlana was not ready to proceed with his bail application. “His three co-accused, a Judge of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria Judge, Portia Phahlane, 57, her son Kagiso Phahlane, 32,…

An erstwhile giant has lost its sway. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), launched in Durban on 1 December 1985, is celebrating its fortieth anniversary. Its formation represented a consolidation of fragmented unions into a single organisation that drove industrial action and broader societal demands. The federation that once made the apartheid regime and bosses tremble now appears weakened by internal rivalries, fragmentation, and cooptation. Having drawn on the banned South African Congress of Trade Unions, as well as the independent unions that emerged after the 1973 Durban strikes, Cosatu united a broad range of workers across industry, race, and gender. It gave the working class the strength to influence national politics through consistent organisation, clear ideological direction, and coordinated campaigns that changed the balance of forces in…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says his biggest challenge in 2026 will be getting the balance right between maintaining winning momentum and ensuring his top players are relatively fresh for the 2027 World Cup. The Bok boss hinted that he is prepared to make a few sacrifices next year in terms of the relentless need to win every game, so that the Boks are in the best possible condition for the World Cup. Erasmus used boxing parlance to describe the challenge that 2026 presents. He said the team may need to take a few uppercuts, so that some players do not end the year punch-drunk. It will be fascinating to see how Erasmus tackles a year in which the Boks contest the inaugural Nations Cup, with games against England, Scotland, and…

The year 2025 was one of contrasts for South African athletics. While several individuals delivered standout performances, Team SA once again struggled on the world stage. A contingent of 49 athletes tried to end an eight-year medal drought at the World Championships in Tokyo but returned with one medal – the 4x400m relay bronze – underscoring the challenges of aligning the domestic season with the global calendar. For athletes like Bayanda Walaza, the year ended in heartbreak as injury robbed the young sprint sensation of a realistic medal chance. Simbine: Early-season spark The year began brightly with encouraging signs from sprint king, Akani Simbine, who won bronze in the men’s 60m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing on March 21. His fine early-season form continued outdoors as…

Mamelodi Sundowns ended their 2025 calendar year on another frustrating note as they failed to break down Siwelele FC, with the sides settling for a 1–1 draw in their Betway Premiership clash. It has become a recurring pattern this season, with the Brazilians struggling at times to produce the cutting edge they have long been known for. They will now hope that the 2026 restart brings sharper execution and a return to their clinical best. Sundowns head into the festive season break in an unfamiliar position — chasing the pack rather than leading it, as has so often been the case in recent seasons. They currently trail log leaders Orlando Pirates by two points, and with the Buccaneers having played a game fewer, pressure continues to mount on Miguel Cardoso.…

South African swimming spent much of the past decade searching for its next wave of global contenders. In 2025, the tide finally turned. A blend of breakout youngsters and resurgent established names produced the most promising season since the eras of Chad le Clos and Tatjana Smith. From Pieter Coetzé’s surge onto the world stage to Kaylene Corbett’s first international medal and Rebecca Meder’s World Cup consistency, the sport’s talent pipeline flowed strongly again. Coetzé announces himself as SA’s next male superstar For years, Coetzé has been earmarked as South Africa’s next major men’s swimmer. In 2025, he delivered on that promise. The twenty-one-year-old backstroke specialist produced a breakthrough season of world-class times, calm race execution and a new mental edge. At the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, the Tuks…