Here’s a look at some of the headlines that rocked central Pretoria in 2024.
TshwaneYaTima hits the CBD
The Tshwane YaTima drive was rolled out in full force this year throughout the metro and the CBD wasn’t an exception.
In a particularly large operation on March 6, 10 teams were sent across the CBD to disconnect properties that were in arrears with payments.
The revenue collection campaign, which started in 2021, disconnects electric power supply to defaulting clients who run up high service bills and fail to pay their monthly invoices.
The Tshwane metro at the time was said to owe over R20-billion to Eskom. Some of the disconnections included a student accommodation on Church Street, and another on Pretorius Street believed to have been owing R2.7-million and R2.5-million respectively. Another apartment block on Hamilton Street owed R1.9-million and most notably an entire shopping centre in Arcadia.
Residents handed keys to new Marabastad homes
On April 10, Minister for Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi and her deputy Pam Tshwete gave the approved tenants keys to their new Marabastad Townlands Housing Project homes.
The 1 200-unit multimillion-rand mixed-use complex is the largest social housing development in South Africa. The project has been in development since 2017 and after numerous delays, it was finally completed and remains open for applications.
The opening was attended by Housing Company Tshwane (HCT), the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) and metro officials, including then MMC for human settlements Ofentse Madzebatela and Ward 58 councillor Conride Ngoveni.
Pretoria Art Museum turns 60
After being inaugurated on May 20, 1964, the Pretoria Art Museum turned 60 years old this year.
To mark the special occasion, a small exhibition highlighting the history of the museum, complemented by some seminal works of art, was put on display.
The seminal works that were displayed paid homage to some of the historical landmarks and moments the museum has borne witness to under the title “We, The Purple”.
The initiative draws inspiration from Tshwane being dubbed the “Jacaranda City”, an ode to the iconic Jacaranda trees lining its streets.
Pretoria High School for Girls racial saga
In July, 12 matric PGHS learners were suspended for allegedly making racist remarks in a “whites-only” WhatsApp group prompting the suspension of the principal, Phillipa Erasmus, and her deputy, Doret Schoombie. The learners faced charges related to violence, bullying and disruptive behaviour, but were acquitted by the school governing body (SGB).
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) enlisted Mdladlamba Attorneys on August 12 to conduct what was supposed to be a seven-day investigation. The GDE released a summary of the investigation report findings during a press briefing on November 4.
The attorneys found that the allegations of racism were brought to the principal beforehand but not handled appropriately. The GDE faced criticism from organisations such as the DA and Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF). Though the report has been complied with, further action has not been ruled out. In the meantime, Erasmus and Schoombie have returned to work following their suspension.
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