Oom Paul statue excluded from monument; EFF threat to topple it

OOM Paul’s statue at Church Square is the subject of debate yet again, after the city council resolved to support a motion by the EFF that it be excluded from the Lalela Freedom of Expression Monument. However, there is still no mention of whether the statue will be removed or not. The resolution was passed during a council sitting on Thursday. It was opposed by the ANC, which said this would be “against the party policies on statues and heritage”. Last year, mayor Solly Msimanga said Church Square would be transformed into a place of open-air entertainment, called the Lalela Freedom of Expression Monument. Work has already started at the historic site. Msimanga said the Lalela project was aimed at bringing about vibrancy in public activities in the inner city. At the time, he said the statue would remain in place as the inner city regeneration project changed the face of Church Square around it. EFF councillor MoAfrika Mabogwane proposed that Paul Kruger’s st…
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Nehawu to intensify Unisa strike, may spread to Tuks

WORKERS at the University of Pretoria could soon join their Unisa counterparts in a strike for higher wages, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) said yesterday. As the strike at Unisa entered its fourth day yesterday, Nehawu threatened to intensify its strike and mobilise members at other universities. Nehawu national organiser for higher education Ntsako Nombelani said this was not Unisa’s fight alone and next on the list to strike would be its members at Tuks. They too, according to Nombelani, were at loggerheads with the university with their wage rates. “In the next couple of weeks the strike will hit Tuks,” he said. Workers affiliated to Nehawu at and Tshwane University of Technology managed to score them themselves a good deal during negotiations last year. They agreed on a 7% hike, coupled with numerous benefits. Nombelani said that university was safe from the wage-related strikes. At Unisa, students were yet again hit as s…
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ANCYL, Vat Alles workers vow to bring Pretoria CBD to a standstill

No application had been received by Monday night for Friday’s planned shutdown of the city spearheaded by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Greater Tshwane region. Mayoral spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi said: “We are aware of the planned shutdown. However, no application has been received to our knowledge and thus the march will be unprotected and illegal.” Mgobozi said the DA-led administration hoped there would be no loss to life or limb, or damage to property, and that proceedings would be conducted within the ambit of law. Metro Police spokesperson Nonhlanhla Mgiba also confirmed that no application had been received for the planned march. Mgiba said the City had only received a request for a march by former Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees. Mgiba said the ANCYL march had not yet been approved due to requirements still pending. However, the route to be taken would be communicated once the march was approved. “Should this march be approved, the …
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Father severely beaten during house robbery in north of Pretoria for a cellphone and TV

A 43 year-old male was severely beaten during a house robbery that occurred in north of Pretoria on Tuesday morning around 01:00. Police spokesperson Captain Rebecca Phatlane stated the following: “The home was invaded by two armed men who tied the homeowner and his daughter’s feet and hands then assaulted the owner,” she said. Phatlane stated that the robbers fled with a cellphone and a TV. “The owner was seriously injured and taken to hospital. The daughter was unharmed.” A case of house robbery and assault was opened, she said.
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Pretoria Zoo rejects grumbles from dissatisfied visitors

Dissatisfied visitors took to social social media over the festive season, saying that Pretoria Zoo had shoddy maintenance and a lackluster workforce. Zoo visitors spend too little time at enclosures and if they don’t see the animal immediately, they walk past and assumed the enclosures were empty, says Pretoria Zoo spokesperson Angeline Schwan in response to recent visitor complaints about the absence of animals. On Facebook, Christiaan David Vdm Cardoso vented his frustrations, saying he would not be visiting the zoo again. His post outlined his qualms, which included staff not doing their job properly, poor conditions and a run-down facility, among others. “I cannot express my utter and sickening discuss at how the zoo has turned out!!! “As an avid zoo visitor annually I am saddened to say that you will not see me and my family ever again,” he wrote. Saying it was a depressing place to go to, Cardoso said: “I am 37 years old, have been coming to the zoo sin…
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12-jarige sterf by gewilde vakansieoord oos van Pretoria

ʼn Rotspoel by ʼn gewilde vakansieoord oos van Pretoria het Maandag die lewe van nog ʼn besoeker geëis. Die polisie het bevestig ʼn 12-jarige meisie is by die Nkwe-oord naby Tierpoort dood toe sy glo in ʼn rotspoel naby ʼn piekniekarea in die oord ingegaan het om haar kleiner sussie te red wat in die moeilikheid beland het. Kapt. Kay Makhubela, woordvoerder van die polisie, het gesê die meisie het toe ook in die water in die moeilikheid geraak. “’n Lid van die publiek het ingespring om te help, maar net die een kind kon opgespoor en gered word,” het Makhubele gesê. Volgens inligting op sosiale media het omstanders solank as ʼn uur gesoek vir die meisie se liggaam sonder professionele hulp. “Daardie wonderlike mans wat gehelp het (waarvan drie van hulle my kêrel en sy twee vriende was) is huis toe met uitputting, skraapmerke, hartseer, skuldgevoel, woede, frustrasie en teleurstelling. ʼn Kennisgewing alleen is nie genoeg veiligheidsmaatreëls om so ʼn verlies te voorkom nie,” …
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Slagpale in Pretoria gesluit ná bakterie in vleismonsters gevind word

Die Gautengse department van Gesondheid het ‘n slagpale in Pretoria gesluit na vleismonsters van dié slagpale positief getoets het vir die Listeriose bakterie. Die slagpale mag nie enige produkte verkoop tot hulle aan die vereistes van die departement voldoen nie. Dit sluit in dat die bron van die organisme bepaal word, ontsmetting van die perseel plaasvind en monsters van die werksoppervlaktes en water voor en na ontsmetting gedoen word. Vroeër vanjaar het die Nasionale Departement van Gesondheid ‘n uitbraak van Listeriose aangekondig na ten minste 365 gevalle van dié toestand en 28 sterfgevalle aangemeld is. Die departement van Gesondheid het die afgelope tyd hard gewerk om die bron van die uitbraak vas te stel. Na ‘n pasiënt onlangs met die toestand gediagnoseer is, kon die department die bron van die besmette vleis na die betrokke slagpale in Pretoria naspoor. Die Gautengse Department van Gesondheid het ook monsters ook aan die “National Institute for communicalble…
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Passasiers kaap glo 2 Prasa-treine by Hercules-treinstasie in Pretoria

Twee treine van die Passasierspooragentskap van Suid-Afrika (Prasa) is glo Dinsdagoggend by die Hercules-treinstasie in Pretoria gekaap deur passasiers wat na Saulsville wou reis in plaas daarvan om terug te keer na Koedoespoort. Luidens ’n verklaring van die vervoervakbond Untu het die passasiers die treinspoor omstreeks 07:00 vol betonblokke gepak waarna hulle die drywers gedwing het om na Saulsville te ry. Volgens Louwrens Erasmus, wat die pendeltrein tussen Koedoespoort en Hercules beman het, het hy uit sy kajuit geklim om in die teenoorgestelde kajuit te klim toe die passasiers hom voorgekeer het en hom gedwing het om aan te hou ry. “Ek het besef ek moet saamwerk of ek en my Metro-wag gaan seerkry. Toe ek uit die kajuit klim om in die ander een in te klim op na Koedoespoort toe het die ontstoke passasiers my teruggedruk en betonblokke op die spoor agter die trein gepak. Ek het vir my lewe gevrees en daar was geen Prasa-veiligheidswagte in sig nie,” het Erasmus, wa…
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Pretoria east residents see red over blackouts

A DARK Christmas looms for Pretoria east residents, who have since called on the City to shed light on their predicament. Residents in Mooikloof, Faerie Glen, Zwavelpoort and Olympus have been plagued by random power outages in recent months. Mathlodi Kgapola said her Mooi- kloof residence and surrounding estates had two outages at least twice a week without any explanation or warning. Another resident, from Faerie Glen, said they were tired of the City's “lame excuses”. These ranged from stormy weather and trees not being felled that disturbed electricity poles to cable theft. “Every time it is a new story,” said the resident. She understood that even in the most well developed cities there were power outages, but “the City must let us know in time so we can make alternative plans for the festive season and security". Once criminals knew the City was not doing anything about the power outages, they would capitalise on it, especially during the festive season whi…
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Kidnapped Pretoria businessman reunited with family

Elderly Pretoria businessman Omar Carrim, who was kidnapped after leaving his business more than three months ago, has been reunited with his family. Carrim, the owner of Home Hyper City, was kidnapped 137 days ago. The 76-year-old, whose family had repeatedly expressed fears that his heart may give in, has been admitted to an undisclosed hospital. “On behalf of the family, I can confirm the release of Omar Carrim (76). He was released in Olifantsfontein this evening at about 10.30pm,” said anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee. “We appeal for privacy. Let’s give the victim and his family the time and space to recover from the ordeal,” said Abramjee. Activist Yusuf Abramjee speaks about the release of Pretoria businessman Omar Carrim. The family has thanked friends, community members and relatives “for all the support and assistance since he disappeared in early August. We are most grateful to everyone and we thank the Almighty for returning our father and brothe…
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