Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae By: Neo Ntsele In her 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA), Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae highlighted the crucial role of attracting investment to boost the provincial economy, generate employment, and enhance the quality of life for Free State residents. To further these efforts, the Premier led a provincial delegation to the People’s Republic of China. This investment mission secured a R100 billion investment for th

SAPS Free State Provincial Office By: Neo Ntsele On 1 September 2026, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State Province unveiled the provincial crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year and the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year. The statistics were revealed at the SAPS Free State Provincial Office in Bloemfontein by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, alongside the Office of the MEC for Community

Wanted suspect By: Staff Reporter Police in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Bethlehem, are searching for a suspect linked to a robbery and fraud incident at Sechaba Mall. The victim reported that as he was about to withdraw cash from an ATM, he felt a sharp object pressed against his back. An unidentified African male then grabbed the victim’s bank card and fled. An undisclosed sum of money was later withdrawn from the victim’s account. A case docket was filed, and a composi

Pupils proudly showcase their certificates after completing the Charlie “The Crazy Shopper” Robotics initiative at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus By: Neo Ntsele The Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) has initiated a community engagement project to introduce Phuthaditjhaba school children to robotics, coding, and other STEM fields, aiming to expand their technological exposure and career prospects. A ceremony was held on Thursday, 27 August, to award certificate

Kanana Streetlight By: Neo Ntsele Residents of Kanana and Dinotsing in Zastron have expressed serious concerns about the persistent problem of malfunctioning streetlights in their neighbourhoods. They have highlighted that the resulting darkness from these nonfunctioning lights is leading to a worrying rise in crime rates in the area. Many community members believe that the inadequate lighting is fostering an environment where criminal activities can flourish, making it incre

Trio Arrested for drug dealings By: Staff Reporter Three individuals, two men aged 42 and 60 and a woman aged 42, are set to appear for the first time in the Zastron Magistrates Court on charges of alleged drug dealing. They were apprehended early this morning, Wednesday, 26 August 2026, by a multidisciplinary team including the Hawks, Tactical Response Team (TRT), and Crime Intelligence (CI) during an operation named Operation Diamond. CI members identified the group in 2025

Sephokong Mountain By: Neo Ntsele The bodies of two men, Sello Khala and Fana Nale, who were reported missing from Lusaka Village in Qwaqwa, have been found on the top of Sephokong Mountain after a thorough search and rescue operation. The two men disappeared on Sunday, 9 August 2026, after going on a hunting trip at Hatsoanyana Farm with friends. While crossing Sephokong Mountain, the group got separated due to thick, misty weather. One friend managed to find his way back ho

Lusanda Madikane Opinion article by Lusanda Madikane, Assistant, Directorate for International Partnerships and Relations August is a month dedicated to honouring women who have led in times of crisis and hopelessness, when South Africa was fighting apartheid injustices, particularly under the pass laws. Women took a stand and declared: “Enough is enough”. The month also commemorates the historic 1956 Women’s March against the pass laws, led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph,

By: Neo Ntsele The Free State Provincial Tracking Team has successfully captured a suspect long sought after in connection with a 2009 rape case, following a focused intelligence-driven Operation Shanela II. On Tuesday night, 18 August 2026, at around 20:30, members of the Provincial Tracking Team acted on reliable information about the suspect's location. Members strategically approached and arrested 38-year-old Tshediso Emmanuel Makamole in Phase 10, Mangaung, concluding hi

Free State Premier Maquuen Letsoha-Mathae By: Neo Ntsele An 82-year-old sexual predator who targeted a young girl will spend the rest of his life in prison after receiving a life sentence from the Bloemfontein regional court. On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, Barend van der Berg from Petrusburg in the Free State was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of an 8-year-old child. Van Der Berg was sentenced exactly two years after Premier Letsoha-Mathae and MEC Jabu Mbalula vis

Mapule Dhlamini By: Neo Ntsele The Free State permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have advocated for the blacklisting of contractors who abandon or delay project completion in the province. In a meeting on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, with Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and representatives from the Office of the Auditor-General, the delegation was briefed on ongoing projects in the province. Projects facing issues include the construction of

By: Neo Ntsele A 50-year-old man is set to appear in the Zastron Magistrate's Court following his arrest for allegedly raping his wife at their home in Refeng-kgotso, Zastron. ​According to police, the 54-year-old victim—a practicing Sangoma—was attending to clients at around 02:00 on Friday, 14 August 2026, when her husband demanded intimacy. When she refused due to her work, the suspect forcibly dragged her into a bedroom, stripped both of them, and assaulted her without he

By: Neo Ntsele Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) at Jacobsdal Police Station were alerted to a hostage situation on Moabi Street, Ratanang Township, Jacobsdal, around 11:45 on Sunday, 16 August 2026. The SAPS Xhariep District Commissioner, Brigadier Mohiti Sereetsi, along with the Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence, SAPS hostage negotiators, and other relevant parties, were promptly dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, initial

Prof Alice Ncube Opinion article by Prof Alice Ncube, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC), University of the Free State As South Africa commemorates Women’s Month, we celebrate the achievements, resilience and contributions of women across society. However, this period must also provide an opportunity for deeper reflection on one of the most persistent threats facing women and children: Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). GBVF is o

Deputy Minister Hlengwa and MEC Mbalula By: Neo Ntsele Jabu Mbalula, the MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, conducted stakeholder meetings with Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa at OR Tambo House in Bloemfontein, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. Monyatso Mahlatsi, the MEC for Health, was also in attendance, along with representatives from the Road Accident Fund, Road Traffic Management Corporation, and various other sta

Lerato Tlale By: Neo Ntsele The newly appointed manager of the National Under-21 Women’s Hockey team, Lerato Tlale, aims to lead the team to victory. The 42-year-old from Bochabela, within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State, took on the role of team manager on July 24th and expressed her eagerness to guide the team towards significant achievements. “As the manager of the South Africa Under-21 Women’s Hockey National Team, my responsibility is to manage t

By: Neo Ntsele A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and rape. This follows the discovery of the body of a 7-year-old victim beneath a bed in a shack in Bultfontein. On Sunday, 9 August 2026, police were called to a murder scene in the Phahameng area of Bultfontein. Upon arrival, they were led to a shack. There, they found the lifeless body of the young female victim. The victim was discovered with her pants down and had neck injuries. Emergency medical s

Gregony Deck By: Neo Ntsele The Hawks in the Free State have apprehended 35-year-old Gregony Deck, who had been listed as a wanted suspect for allegations involving human trafficking, rape, and robbery. On Friday, 7 August 2026, the Bloemfontein Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team received information about the suspect's location in Theunissen. With assistance from the Tactical Response Team, this information was acted upon, leading to the suspect's arrest at a

Apprehended Suspects By: Neo Ntsele Five suspects, aged between 18 and 25, are set to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court soon on various charges, including rape. This follows an intensive investigation by the Boithuso Crime Prevention Unit Relief A, acting on information during #OperationalShanela II, conducted from 3 to 4 August 2026. In the early hours of Monday, 3 August 2026, around 01:30 in F-Section, Boithuso Policing precinct, two females and two males returni

Gregony Deck By: Staff Reporter The Hawks in the Free State are requesting public help to locate Gregony Deck (35), who is sought in relation to charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape that occurred in Bloemfontein from 1 to 4 August 2026. The suspect is thought to have escaped before being captured by authorities and is still on the run. Anyone with details about his location is encouraged to reach out to the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Nkagis