News Bulletin of 27 December 2025, 1pm

The City of Tshwane has been confirmed as the host city of a P2-status event on the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour, the first professional padel tournament of its kind to be staged in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The P2 signals the sport’s transition from a fast-growing recreational activity to a fully fledged
professional event.

The tournament is scheduled for 26 July to 2 August 2026, with a prize pool of approximately R5.3 million.

Preliminary analysis from the eThekwini Municipality shows about R1.8 billion in direct visitor spending so far this festive season.
Since the start of December, the coastal city has welcomed approximately 500,000 visitors to its shores.
The municipality released its mid-season festive statistics during a media briefing on Monday at North Beach.

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba says 22 of the city’s 23 beaches are open, with hotel occupancy at 72%.

Xaba added that the municipality expects further economic gains as the festive season continues.

Newly crowned Teen Universe South Africa 2026 winner Mathabo Matlou has launched the VIC GIRL Foundation, a girl-led non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young girls and women to embrace vibrancy, intelligence and confidence.

Mathabo says the foundation was launched to integrate marginalised young women into society, giving them tools to build better lives.

The foundation runs programmes that boost confidence, teach skills and create safe spaces for girls to share stories and their dreams.