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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…

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 …

Pretoria bus with passengers hijacked during feud between taxi operators

A bus with passengers was hijacked in Pretoria on Tuesday afternoon after a feud between several taxi operators on the city's express bus service. Sheila Lynn Senkubuge, Mayor Committee on Roads and Transport, said on Wednesday that the A Re Yeng bus was allegedly hijacked by "double crossed " bus drivers who disregarded an agreement between the Tshwane metro and three taxi ranks. The company entered the agreement with the taxi associations of Hammanskraal, Stinkwater and Eersterust in December 2017. According to the company, taxi drivers are reimbursed to no longer enter the city center, but to pick up and drop off commuters at a newly built taxi and bus stop at the Wonderboom Junction shopping center at R17 per ride. From Wonderboom Junction, commuters will then be transported with A Re Yeng buses to the city center at R8 per ride. This agreement was implemented on January 8. "On Tuesday afternoon, taxi drivers from all three taxi associations refused to take pass…

EFF Members created havoc at Swedish retailer’s stores in up-market malls in Pretoria

RED T-shirt clad Economic Freedom Fighters closed down South African branches of the international clothing retail giant H&M, including at Menlyn Mall in the city - and will close down any other shop that behaves in a racist manner. On Saturday EFF members stormed the Swedish retailer’s stores in up-market malls in Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town, upending racks and pushing over shop dummies. A video taken at a Menlyn Mall shop has gone viral on social media. The reason for their violent protest action was an advert for an H&M product, a boy’s green hoodie, modelled by a young black child bearing the words: “Coolest monkey in the jungle.” After objections were first raised abroad, H&M apologised for the advert and withdrew the item from its online store. “We strongly believe that racism and bias in any shape or form, deliberate or accidental, are simply unacceptable,” H&M said in a statement. “We have got this wrong and we are deeply sorry.” But…

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.

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…

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,” …

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…

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…

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…