South Africa has made strides in integrating immigrants into local communities. The country is home to an estimated 2.4 million to 3.1 million foreign-born residents. This represents roughly 4% to 5.1% of the total population. Acceptance of immigrants as neighbours in the neighbourhoods where they live and work is, however, not a given. Suspicion and tensions between locals and immigrants remain common. Evidence of this was the sharp surge in xenophobic violence and anti-immigrant protests in …
Government
“It Is Our Time” Manifesto Launch Provides Direction Through Practical Solutions for Local Government
Local government can be restored and municipalities’ decline can be turned around. This is the gist of the message conveyed by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) with its Manifesto Launch under the theme “It is Our Time”. (Manifesto attached) The Manifesto, which was unveiled at the Silver Lakes Farm Hotel in Pretoria East, marks a new beginning and provides practical solutions to restore local government, uplift communities and offer them hope for the future. The Freedom Front Plus’s theme …
Transfer of Rebecca Street Crematorium Halted
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) believes that the Tshwane Metro’s Department of Regional Operations and Coordination is already struggling to manage several cemeteries and will not be able to take on a crematorium as well. The Freedom Front Plus on Thursday rejected a proposal to transfer the management of the Rebecca Street Crematorium, located in western Pretoria, to the Metro’s Department of Regional Operations and Coordination. This Crematorium is the only one of its kind in Pretoria and …
Tragedy on Lynnwood Road Following Loftus Spectacle
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) mourns the tragic incident that occurred on Saturday evening on Lynnwood Road in Pretoria following the Springboks’ match against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld. A rugby spectator, who was apparently making his way back to his vehicle, fell into a deep excavation on the pavement outside the Javet Art Centre and later succumbed to his injuries. The incident occurred as thousands of spectators were leaving the stadium and making their way through the construction area …
Decay of Tshwane’s Wastewater Treatment Works Can No Longer Be Swept Under the Rug
Tshwane Metro officials can no longer sweep the collapse of the Metro’s waste water treatment works under the rug. It jeopardises residents’ health and violates environmental laws. According to a quarterly oversight report by the Department of Utilities, recently tabled to the Council, it is evident that the main waste water treatment works have continued to deteriorate. Sunderland and Sandspruit are functioning at a shocking 26,3% capacity and Rooiwal North at 17,9%, while Babelegi has …
Tshwane Metro Council Commits to Unknown Development Expenditures
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) objected during a Tshwane Metro council meeting to four items on the agenda where separate powers of attorney for land use applications in Refilwe, Zandfontein, Kameeldrift, and Atteridgeville Extension 19 were approved. The reports on all four of these items, aimed at formalising existing informal settlements, state that the issuance of the powers of attorney will have no negative financial implications for the metro. This statement is technically misleading as …
Contempt for America’s Conditions to Normalize Relations Begins to Show Serious Consequences After a Year
The hourglass is running out for South Africa, which has ignored the five American conditions for normalizing relations between the two countries with contempt for a year. These conditions were handed to the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) exactly a year ago during the party’s historic visit to Washington and the White House, to be conveyed to the South African government. This was done, but it was disregarded. The ANC, which views South Africa’s foreign policy primarily as its own domain, …
Tshwane Metro’s Negligence Facilitates Cable Theft in Groenkloof
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) once again urges the Tshwane Metro to clear away dense vegetation in parts of Groenkloof, particularly along the boundary fences of the Unisa and UP campuses. Approximately 1 500 residents, several businesses and the Groenkloof Life Hospital have been stranded without electricity since 02:00 yesterday morning after power cables were stolen for the second time in less than a month. The densely overgrown vegetation is also severely hampering the Metro’s repair …
Good Governance Helps Tshwane Rise
GOOD Statement by Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor and Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Economic Development and Spatial Planning: In commenting on the draft 2026/27 budget and latest IDP and MTREF reports for the City of Tshwane today in Council, GOOD’s Councillor Sarah Mabotsa, the Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Economic Development and Spatial Planning in the City of Tshwane, has noted how “GOOD governance is helping Tshwane to Rise”. Just 3 years …
Tabling of Tshwane’s Draft Fully Funded Budget for 2026/27
GOOD Statement by Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor and Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Economic Development and Spatial Planning: GOOD welcomes the tabling of the draft 2026/27 for the City of Tshwane. Residents and businesses of South Africa’s capital city can be reassured that the draft budget has been assessed by financial experts at the National Treasury and confirmed as fully funded, signalling the continued improvement of Tshwane’s financial position. Just 3 …