Zastron Local Tuck Shop Owners By: Neo Ntsele The spaza shop owners in Zastron have firmly opposed foreign nationals running tuck shops in their area. Following a recent meeting, they called for the closure of all foreign-owned spaza shops, citing concerns over illegal immigration and non-compliance. This decision comes after ongoing discussions about undocumented foreign nationals operating businesses without proper authorization, leading to tension in the local community. Z

Phumela Mnyameni (Mnyameni Poultry Farm Pty Ltd) By: Neo Ntsele Unemployment continues to be a significant issue in many small towns throughout South Africa, including Zastron. However, amidst these challenges, there are uplifting stories of young individuals who choose to create opportunities rather than wait for them. One such story is that of Phumela Mnyameni, a young woman from the dusty streets of Zastron, making notable progress as a poultry farmer. Mnyameni Poultry Far

Zastron Spaza Shop owners' engagement By: Neo Ntsele The small town of Zastron recently experienced a notable gathering of local tuck shop owners aiming to reclaim control of their economy. At Matlakeng Stadium, the Zastron Spaza Shop Forum convened to voice their concerns about the increasing number of foreign nationals owning spaza shops in the area. Their message was straightforward: businesses intended for South Africans should be run by South Africans. This meeting follo

Mohokare Local Municipality Mayor Teboho Mochechepa By: Neo Ntsele The transition from high school to higher education can be difficult, particularly for students in rural areas. In response to this, Mayor Teboho Mochechepa of Mohokare Local Municipality made a significant effort to assist the matriculants of the Mohokare class of 2026. The Mayoral Career Exhibition, held at Zastron’s Lere-la-Thuto Hall, gathered government bodies and educational stakeholders to offer vital i

Matla Youth Tourism Organization leadership By: Neo Ntsele Zastron, a town rich in history and culture, recently marked a significant milestone in preserving its heritage. The Matla Tourism Youth Organization, led by Molahlehi Lechoo, partnered with the Free State Department of Sports & Culture to celebrate International Museum Day by launching the town’s first digital museum. This event not only honoured the legacy of Lucas Majozi but also introduced a new way for residents

By: Neo Ntsele The residents of Chase Street in Zastron have been facing a growing problem that has gone unaddressed for months. Sewage water levels have risen drastically, causing serious inconvenience and health risks. Despite repeated notifications to the Mohokare Local Municipality, no action has been taken to resolve the issue. This ongoing sewage crisis is now affecting daily life, especially for learners and homeowners in the area. For several months, sewage water has

Oratilwe (Shakes) Senoamadi By: Neo Ntsele In the heart of Zastron, Matlakeng, 32-year-old sketching artist Oratilwe (Shakes) Senoamadi is redefining local success by transforming a natural talent into a sustainable livelihood. In an economic landscape where traditional employment is scarce, Senoamadi has leveraged his creative skill set to bypass the limitations of the local job market. Recognising that the traditional route of job seeking might delay his professional goals

Mohokare Arrive Alive festive season campaign By: Staff Reporter The Arrive Alive festive season safety campaign, led by Mohokare Municipality Mayor Teboho Mochechepa, successfully set a new standard for community-driven road safety. This event was a collaborative effort involving the Mohokare traffic division, Free State traffic officials, EMS, the Department of Home Affairs, Immigration, and SAPS. The campaign, under Mayor Mochechepa's leadership, achieved significant miles

Xhariep District Mayor Irene Mehlomakhulu, at the World AIDS Day at Mooifontein Primary School, Zastron By: Neo Ntsele The Xhariep District Municipality, alongside Mohokare Local Municipality, the Department of Health, the Free State Premier's Office, local SAPS, SALGA, and the Department of Social Development, marked World AIDS Day by delivering an encouraging and unifying message to the residents of Zastron at Mooifontein Primary School. This joint event aimed to show solid

Free State Leadership By: Neo Ntsele The long-awaited report on the Jagersfontein Development dam collapse reveals that the company might have been aware of the impending danger three years before the incident occurred. Experts from the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand investigated the dam collapse. The report was formally presented to Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae. Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, alon

Boitumelong Special School By: Neo Ntsele The Boitumelong Special School in Thaba Nchu, Free State, was heavily impacted by a gale storm that occurred on Sunday, the 23rd. This school, which serves 384 learners with severe intellectual disabilities, including 44 autistic learners, experienced extensive damage. Eight classrooms were affected, with roofs torn off and corrugated iron scattered throughout the premises and nearby areas. A teacher was injured when the ceiling colla

MEC for Education, Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya By: Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Education, led by MEC Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya, strongly condemns the alarming and distressing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against Henry Madlala, a former Mathematics teacher and currently the suspended Principal of New Horizon Independent School in Harrismith, Free State. These accusations have emerged through testimonies from former students, alumni networks, community voi

Onkarabetse Leew By: Staff Reporter Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae has urged the Glen community to remain calm and let the legal process unfold, following the discovery of the body of five-year-old Onkarabetse Leew in the bush by police today. She emphasised that, despite the community's pain, taking the law into one's own hands cannot be justified. Onkarabetse disappeared on November 8, 2025, just four days after the funeral of his cousin Katleho Leeuw, who also passed away

Councillor Thabiso Nai engaging the community of Zastron, Matlakeng. By: Neo Ntsele The councillor for Ward 7 in Mohokare Local Municipality, Thabiso Nai, held a sectoral meeting with Ward 7 residents in Khotsong on Tuesday (yesterday), providing feedback on project developments. The rollout engagement started last week, on Thursday, the 6th, and will continue until next Tuesday. Residents were updated about the issuing of residential sites at the new development location, wh

Matlakeng Community Hall By: Neo Ntsele The residents of Zastron, Matlakeng, are calling for the restoration of the community hall, which has been left in shambles and is becoming a crime hotspot. The community hall has also raised concerns among parents when it comes to the safety of their children who use the hall as their playing ground. To those residing close, the recent state of the community hall brings nothing but terror. It is noted that criminals hide inside the bui

Finishing School (Supplied) By: Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Education is reorganising its post-matric intervention approach from the Finishing Schools Model to the Second Chance Matric Support Programme (SCMSP) to ensure greater access, flexibility, and sustainability in helping learners complete the NSC qualification and consequently improving their subject performance. From 2026, the Department will transition from the current full-time Finishing Schools Mod

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Prayer and Dialogue at Zastron By: Staff Reporter Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, a...

Photo: Zastron Youth Protest By: Neo Ntsele The enraged youth of Zastron- Matlakeng took to the streets holding placards and chanting...

Photo: Nosicelo Madushana Supplied By: Neo Ntsele With winter fast approaching, healthcare professionals in the Free State are gearing...

Photo: Accident Scene Supplied By: Staff Reporter A fatal crash occurred on the N6, approximately 15 km south of Reddersburg towards...