It was a year of stark contrasts, marked by infrastructure strain and environmental crises, yet defined by community resilience in Pretoria.

Across the city, residents and organisations stepped up to revitalise systems that had faltered, shaping a capital that navigates change.

In Centurion, Freedom Front Plus Ward Councillor Lenor Janse van Rensburg described a year dominated by infrastructure failures and service delivery frustrations across the capital city and her own ward.

Water systems, electricity supply, and road maintenance came under severe pressure, forcing residents to rely on community structures.

Despite these difficulties, she observed strong unity and co-operation among residents. “The year that has passed brought challenges for our ward in Centurion and also for other wards in Pretoria, but also moments of hope and co-operation.

“I saw how residents supported one another and how community initiatives brought new energy,” Janse van Rensburg said.

In the Moot, community leader, businessman and school governing body member Marius Adams reflected on a year of community collaboration that produced visible improvements despite challenges.

Funding cuts from the education department tested schools, yet teachers, parents, governing bodies, and businesses worked together to sustain institutions.

“[It] was a year in which the Moot also became visibly more beautiful and stronger, precisely because a community joined hands to create improvements together,” Adams noted, praising volunteer efforts.

Trauma support organisations, such as Mon Ami Trauma Troops, grew under pressure.

Spokesperson Estelle Gerber reported expansion despite zero state funding, as volunteers provided emotional support, victim assistance, and community outreach, even while facing personal hardships.

Gerber said, “Mon Ami Trauma Troops grew from strength to strength and achieved far more than in previous years, despite receiving no financial assistance from the state,” highlighting faith as a guiding force through difficulties.

On the union front, long-standing wage hikes and benchmarking decisions continue to strain the metro’s finances.

The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) lodged papers on December 1 with the labour appeals court to overturn a ruling that exempted the metro from implementing a 5.4% wage increase agreed to in 2023. The metro successfully argued last year that it could not afford the R600-million required for the deal.

This follows on the heels of the union winning a different appeal against the metro, which is now scrambling to find R1.6-billion, after it chose not to appeal a separate 3.5% wage award dating back to 2021/22.

Samwu deputy general secretary Nkhetheni Muthavhi confirmed the appeal, saying the union would not allow municipalities to ‘hide behind financial mismanagement’.

Pretoria’s heritage sector marked a year of activity, particularly around the bicentenary of the birth of President Paul Kruger on October 10.

Jaco Schoonraad, curator of the Sammy Marks Museum and the Kruger Museum, highlighted new exhibitions, seminars, and heritage celebrations.

Schoonraad emphasised collaboration with other institutions as essential for preserving history.

Similarly, Sakkie du Plooy of the Erfenisstigting (Heritage foundation) described the reorganisation of Pretoria’s heritage committee and efforts to repair vandalised statues and heritage panels.

He expressed optimism about heritage tourism and continued preservation work and is looking forward to making a heritage dream come true: to once again hear the bells of the Old Raadsaal ringing out over Church Square.

Looking back on 2025, animal-welfare organisations across Pretoria highlight a year defined by stronger collaboration and growing community awareness.

Among them is Soshanguve Animal Shelter and Educentre NPC, a relatively new haven founded by Tebogo Maredi.

The shelter not only rescues abandoned dogs and gives them a second chance, but also teaches children in the Soshanguve community how to care for their pets and build trusting relationships with them.

Maredi said the year brought welcome support from Pretoria-based organisations that helped ease the shelter’s daily challenges. “The co-operation from Pretoria organisations made the year much easier for us,” he said.

He added that new platforms for engagement, including a recent Christmas trolley dash at Airport Pets with GROOT FM 90.5, helped the shelter connect with partners who share its mission.

Environmental challenges dominated Pretoria North, where Freedom Front Plus councillor Rina Marx highlighted an escalating crisis.

Raw sewage frequently flowed into the Boepens Spruit, polluting neighbourhoods, smallholdings, and the Bon Accord Dam. On the eastern side of Pretoria, Rietvlei Dam’s water has been declared as highly polluted by the clean water expert, Dr Michael van der Laan.

Illegal dumping and severe storms worsened conditions in several water sources in Pretoria, while air pollution from instances such as illegal tyre burning underscored threats to public health. Community clean-up efforts, including projects supported by local businesses, offered her a glimmer of hope.

The education sector faced a complex year. Maryna Besseling, spokesperson for the South African Teachers’ Union, cited the conclusion of collective bargaining negotiations securing salary increases. Admission pressures were particularly acute in grades 1 and 8 in Pretoria, with demand exceeding capacity, and language policies creating additional challenges.

Besseling warned that reduced funding for Quintile 5 schools could increase fees, class sizes, and maintenance backlogs.

Arts and culture in Pretoria also flourished.

According to Ferdi Steyn of Artist’s Village, independent musicians leveraged digital tools and collaboration to grow audiences and develop new platforms.

“This year was filled with growth and gratitude. I had the privilege of working with incredible artists and watching music transform lives,” Steyn reflected.

The Afrikaans language and cultural identity were celebrated by the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV).

ATKV spokesperson Mercia Eksteen said, “2025 was truly a milestone year for the ATKV. Not only did we celebrate 95 years of making a difference, but we also participated in commemorating 100 years of Afrikaans as an official language of South Africa.

“Afrikaans has grown far beyond a means of communication; it plays an indispensable role in academics, business and almost every other sphere.”

On a provincial level, DA MPL Leanne de Jager highlighted oversight efforts that strengthened service delivery and accountability in Pretoria.

She credited petitions, legislative interventions, and community advocacy with securing a new Moot substation, addressing school facility shortages in Pretoria, and investigating pollution in the Hennops River, Bronkhorstspruit, and Rietvlei Dam.

According to De Jager, consistent oversight pressures the provincial government to improve infrastructure and management, benefiting all residents.

Tshwaen Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, described her first full year in office as a ‘test of leadership, patience, and conviction’.

She acknowledged the complexity of leading a diverse and divided metro in 2025, saying the job often involves navigating crisis and progress.

She pointed out several achievements by her administration, including the adoption of a fully funded budget for the first time in years.

Moya said the administration made measurable progress: roads resurfaced and efforts were underway to ensure more reliable water and sanitation services.

For Tshwane DA Caucus leader Cilliers Brink, 2025 was a year of governmental setbacks for Pretoria.

He pointed out that the Hammanskraal water project stalled, spending on water tankers rose 455%, and power outages surpassed previous load-shedding levels. A cleaning levy introduced to balance the budget was declared unrelated to services and later set aside by the High Court.

“The good news is that residents will likely be able to vote for a new city government in 2026, one that will most likely win enough votes to carry out its programme for five years,” he said.

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