Latest news with #Odendaal
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
2026 election: Retief Odendaal to stand as DA's mayoral candidate for NMB metro
The DA's Retief Odendaal will be in the running for the mayoral chain in Nelson Mandela Bay's local elections in 2026. Retief Odendaal is the DA's mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. Picture: X/ @DAEasternCape The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced former Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) mayor Retief Odendaal as the party's mayoral candidate in the 2026 local government elections. According to Eastern Cape provincial leader, Andrew Whitfield, the announcement in effect 'declares our unequivocal intention to challenge for the governance of Nelson Mandela Bay in next year's election'. According to Whitfield, the DA's coalition partners started to turn the metro around during Odendaal's tenure as mayor between September 2022 and May 2023. Retief Odendaal's previous tenure as Bay metro mayor 'Under his leadership, we improved service delivery and cracked down on corruption. Nelson Mandela Bay also achieved its first unqualified audit in 12 years, under Odendaal. 'All this hard work was undone when the ANC, with the assistance of smaller proxy parties, such as the PA [Patriotic Alliance] and NA [Northern Alliance], returned to govern the metro in 2023,' Whitfield said. 'Like the back of his hand' – DA's Retief Odendaal He noted that Odendaal, who is a qualified attorney, currently serves as the DA's Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in the Eastern Cape legislature. 'Retief knows the administration of the metro like the back of his hand, and has a critical understanding of the problems facing Nelson Mandela Bay.' ALSO READ: Tensions boil in Nelson Mandela Bay metro ahead of council meeting Internal process Whitfield said the decision was the culmination of a competitive, thorough and exhaustive DA internal process of applications and interviews to select the best person for the job. 'The DA charges Retief Odendaal to lead a campaign that connects with the hearts of every person in Nelson Mandela Bay, that reaches every community, and tackles the serious issues facing this metro,' he added. Nelson Mandela Bay Metro: Years of extensive issues and challenges Since 2001, the municipality has been led by various mayors, including Eugene Johnson, Odendaal and Gary van Niekerk. The current executive mayor is the ANC's Babalwa Lobishe. In March this year, Lobishe unsuccessfully tried to get the council to write off R3.2 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Nelson Mandela Bay has the highest amount of fruitless and wasteful expenditure in South Africa, which recently increased by R2 billion to stand at R24 billion. READ NOW: Infighting in Nelson Mandela Bay metro detracts from delivery
Daily Maverick
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Bitter Winter — Veteran playwright Paul Slabolepszy's ode to theatre and the art of acting
What goes into getting on stage under the theatre spotlights is what underpins this beautifully philosophical riff, not only on the theatre, but life itself. The setting is a waiting room with a broken coffee machine somewhere in downtown Johannesburg. On the walls are portraits of some of South Africa's acting greats. Household names John Kani, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Bill Flynn and Leleti Khumalo. Two actors, a once-illustrious Afrikaans professional in his mid-70s and the other an up-and-coming young TV star/celebrity, are here for a callback for an audition for an American Western, Six Guns At Sesriem, to be filmed in South Africa. Paul Slabololepszy, or Paul Slab as we have pollarded his surname, has chronicled South African life for the stage since 1979. It has been a long and significant stretch in an industry as flighty and insecure as the nightly stagings that go dark at the end. He is regarded as the country's pre-eminent playwright after the late Athol Fugard and has a particular ear and genius for dialogue and character-driven drama/comedies. And humour, always the humour. Bitter Winter, now playing at the Baxter Studio until 14 June, is Slabolepszy's latest play, a 'love song' to the theatre, his 'second home' and a space for sharing the human experience with 'audiences hungry for connection'. Past, present, old, young Most theatre-going audiences see only the magic and the talent when the lights come up and a piece of drama, dance, poetry, opera or ballet comes to life. What goes into getting into that spotlight – not only getting there, but staying there in an industry as fraught with insecurity and exploitation as 'the arts' – is what underpins this beautifully philosophical riff, not only on the theatre, but on life itself. It is the veteran Shakespearean actor, Jean-Louis Lourens (André Odendaal), who arrives first on a freezing Joburg winter afternoon. Once the darling of the stage, Jean-Louis now rents a back room and survives on Theatre Benevolent Fund handouts and a Sassa grant. He has been called back to play the part of the grizzled sheriff in the movie. It is a part he needs, for the money, more than anything else. This is a man beyond the call of modern technology or fashion fads. You have to call a neighbour to get hold of him. He wears the same scuffed shirt, jacket and pants to all auditions. No quick fashion fads on his ageing and failing body. Odendaal's portrayal of the vulnerable older actor is searing in its authenticity. Drawing on his own vast experience, Odendaal knows this proud man, carrying on. This casting, the character believes, could be the role of a lifetime for the bargain-basement Clint Eastwood lookalike. Enter Prosper Mangane (Orabile Ditsele), vital, full of life, young, with dreams and ambition in 'the industry'. Ditsele is the perfect foil for Odendaal's fragile and failing self. He's a great storyteller, charismatic and cocksure of his future. Managing the process downtown is the run-off-her-feet Felicia Willemse (played with convincing harried avoidance by Chantal Stanfield), who brings news now and again of when the famous director will be arriving. Don't put your daughter on the stage The portrait of the late Shaleen Surtie-Richards on the stage set where the beloved actress so often played before her death at the age of 66 in June 2021, is a haunting reminder of the precariousness of life for those who follow this path. Surtie-Richards was a multi award-winning actress and beloved national treasure, but she had suffered with health issues for years and could not afford medical aid. This is an ongoing struggle for many in the industry, sadly neglected for years by the national government. Director Lesedi Job has provided a lively and paced discovery that takes place between Prosper and Jean-Louis, who, while they may be worlds apart in so many ways, are bound by their love of acting and storytelling. We learn that the creative arts throw up much candyfloss and confetti, but grinding hard work goes into making it happen. It is the irresistible attraction that the theatre, acting, and films hold for those who perform and those who consume it that keeps it going. The artist's life is not an easy one, but for those who master its demands, its shifting landscape, its financial risks, its capacity for depth and truth, it is the only one worth living. Slabolepszy, now in his 70s, has never lost the curiosity, the searching, the attempt to make sense of ordinary people in a less than ordinary world. A new play by this master is always a celebration and so worth the mirror it holds to society. DM Bitter Winter is on at The Golden Arrow Studio at The Baxter from 21 May to 14 June 2025. Performances are Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm.
The South African
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
DA says it stepped in to clean Gqeberha streets after PA rally
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape says its councillors helped clean streets in Sydenham, Gqeberha, on Sunday morning, 18 May 2025, following a Patriotic Alliance (PA) rally held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Former NMB mayor and DA councillor, Retief Odendaal, shared images and comments on social media. He expressed frustration over the state of the area following the event. While acknowledging that large gatherings often result in some litter, he questioned why the PA had not arranged for a clean-up after their rally. The event, held on Saturday,17 May 2025, in Gqeberha, drew a large crowd. By Sunday morning, litter remained in the streets surrounding the venue. Odendaal stated that residents had raised concerns about the condition of the area. 'We usually have to clean the ANC's mess, but now we also have to clean after the PA. Not very patriotic, I would say,' Odendaal said. According to Odendaal, the PA stated they had paid for the use of the stadium. They said that cleaning was included in the venue costs. He noted that this did not cover the surrounding streets, which were also affected. At the time of publication, the PA had not released an official statement addressing the cleanup. Do event fees cover the true cost of public space maintenance? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Centre Odendaal to leave Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints have confirmed that South African centre Burger Odendaal will leave the club at the end of the season. The 32-year-old arrived in the summer of 2023 but was unable to make his debut until December because of injury. He helped Saints win their first Premiership title for a decade last June, having scored his first try for the club in their semi-final win over Saracens, but suffered a serious knee injury as they beat Bath at Twickenham. Odendaal has only made only six appearances, the final one against Newcastle Falcons last month, after which he broke his arm in a training session. "Burger has been a legend, and he has just been unlucky. He has added some experience and maturity to our group, which we needed," said director of rugby Phil Dowson. "It is so disappointing and frustrating and unfair that he has had this arm break towards the back end of the season, because he is a pivotal player in our group and has been great for the environment." News of Odendaal's imminent departure follows that of lock Temo Mayanavanua, who is returning home to play in Fiji. "I've never felt older as part of a team than during the last couple of seasons because of all the youngsters coming through. It has been a really special group to be a part of," Odendaal said. "I am proud of the way I went about all my rehab, trying to do as much as possible and go as hard as possible to get myself back onto the pitch. "Luckily I managed to play in the (Premiership) final (last season), which was my first game at Twickenham. Unfortunately I only lasted 45 minutes then I picked up the knee injury, the silver lining is we got the trophy at the end and I got a champions medal. That is something I'll never forget."
