By Abigail Visagie
In a significant stride towards environmental sustainability, the Free State, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Small Business Development and Environmental Affairs, and the Free State Legislature have launched the One Million Trees Initiative, a project to promote eco-awareness and restore a resilient environment that will contribute to a greener future for the province.
In commemoration of Arbour Day, various stakeholders gathered at South Park Cemetery, Motheo TVET College, Phahameng Cemetery, and Bainsvlei Combined School to launch the planting of one million trees, an initiative that will improve air quality, support biodiversity, and contribute to a healthier environment.
All three departments, pledged to plant 1000 trees.
One hundred trees were planted at Motheo TVET College, 350 at Phahameng Cemetery, 200 at Bainsvlei Combined School, and another 300 at South Park Cemetery.
The trees were a combination of Orange and indigenous trees commonly known as the Lebelebele.
“Planting of these trees is also educational. Wherever we plant, community members are being taught about the specific trees and what watering system should be used to guarantee sustainability and growth for the trees,” said the chairperson of the Economic Cluster within the Free State Legislature Zama Sigwebela.
The MEC of Agriculture Elsabe Rockmann, announced that Bainsvlei Combined School will now have an agricultural sector and presented an Eco-School Certificate.
The One Million Initiative will spread over a period of five years across the whole province.
By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
A whopping R1.2 million is up for grabs at the inaugural Diamonds and Dorings Kimberly Big Hole Marathon launched on Monday at the Mittah Sperepere Convention Centre by North ern Cape Premier Zamani Saul. The marathon is set to take place on 22 Novem ber and will feature several race categories, 5km, 10km, 21,1km, and 42,2km. The Northern Cape Provincial Government, in collaboration with the Athletics Griqualand West Federation has come into partnership to form the second largest marathon in the country after the Comrades marathon. Speaking at the launch, Saul, said that it is not a coincidence that the marathon is launched a day before the end of Heritage Month. “Sports has a unique ability to transcend our cul tural, racial, and linguistic differences. It gives us a sense of belonging while serving as a common unifier. “The only time you can see how united South Af ricans are is at a sports event, this is the only time we assert our South African-ness and forget about any other second identity,” said Saul. He said sports play a critical role in unifying the nation because it fosters cohesion, peace, and de velopment which contributes to creating a vibrant heritage. He also said the Diamonds and Dorings Kimberly Big Hole Marathon passes some of the iconic sites in Kimberly, which speaks to the province’s herit age. Also attending the launch was Executive May or of the Sol Plaatjie Municipality, Martha Bartlett, who said that the marathon is not just about kilom eters and medals, but it is a celebration of the resil ience of the heritage of a community and progress. “From the 5km fun run to the grueling 42,2km marathon, every stride taken on this route will tell the story of our province’s commitment to health and development,” she said. Amongst other guests was the President of Ath letics South Africa, James Moloi who said that they will be there to support runners. “I wish this could be an annual race, but we will do our best as the ASA to give our support, and we will also bring some of our top athletes. “ I would also like to give assurance that may be after next year, this race will be a South African championship,” he said. Moloi said South Africa has 1.8 million registered athletes and that it shows that the country has sup port for good health. The runners who will receive payments are those who will come in positions one to ten. For the 42km both male and female will win R200 000 each. For 21.1km both male and female will receive R50 000, for 10km winners will receive R10 000, and for 5km winners will receive R5000 each. Registration for all four categories, 5km, 10km, 21,1km, and 42,2km, opened on 1 October. The starting point will be at Sol Plaatjie Univer sity and passing landmarks such as the Monument of the Dead, the Oppenheimer Garden, and the Northern Cape Legislature, among others. The fin ish line will be at the university’s sports ground.
By: Lerato Mutlanyane
From the heart of Winnie Mandela Town — once known as Brandfort in the Free State — emerges Ayanda “QueenYaya” Kotoyi, a self-taught powerhouse who has spent the last ten years on the airwaves and the last four behind the decks. At just 28, she’s already a name you can’t ignore in the Afro Tech and Afro House scenes. Her journey into music and media wasn’t planned — it bloomed early. “I was in Grade 6 when I started as a radio pre senter on Youth on the Move FM in Brandfort. This was way before we knew streaming radio would become such a big deal,” she laughs. “At the time, I was also getting gigs to motivate kids my age, and I’d MC local events at clubs.” That spark soon grew into a flame. After matric, she headed to Johannes burg, where she landed her first TV appearances on SABC 1’s YoTV and DSTV’s 1Gospel. But home kept calling — she returned to pursue her studies while continuing to hone her craft at CUT FM. With each set and each mix, her name travelled further. Guest slots on Metro FM and YFM cement ed her reputation, and her sound soon reached au diences as far as Ireland and Scotland. “I always tell people I wasn’t born with DJ talent — I learned the skill and ran with it,” she says with pride. What makes QueenYaya stand out is her inde pendence. She funds her own production, man ages her bookings, and handles her schedule. “It’s tricky to find a team that understands the vision,” she admits. But she’s quick to acknowledge her roots as her anchor. “Growing up in Brandfort shaped me into the person I am. In a small town, everyone knows each other, and the spirit of Ubuntu is lived, not just spoken about.” And tomorrow, that spirit will pulse through the dance floor as QueenYaya drops her hottest Afro House beats live at IZA — a show that promises to be as bold and electric as the woman herself.
As the 2026 municipal elections approach, the Executive Mayor of Xhariep Distric Municipality, Irene Mehlomakulu sat down with Journal News to unpack the challenges, progress, and prior ities that shape the region’s political landscape. The mayor discussed service delivery, youth un employment, infrastructure development, and the municipality’s plans to improve transparency and community engagement.
By: Abigail Visagie
Thank you for affording us the opportunity to speak to you, Mayor. How long have you been serving the Xhariep District Municipality? I was appointed in 2021, during this executive council term, as the executive mayor of the Xhariep District Municipality. So, I have been serving my com munity for four years. It role, given that is a challenging Xhariep is the least funded district not in the Correct me like in other and across in the province—if entire country. if I’m wrong, but municipalities the country, unemployment seems to be the biggest challenge in the seventeen towns under your leadership. How are you dealing with it? You are correct. Unemployment is the biggest chal lenge in Xhariep, and it is closely linked to poverty. In addition, we face serious issues such as teenage pregnancy and substance abuse among our youth. These problems are often fueled by the lack of ac t ivities and opportunities within our communities. I believe that if we can create more activities and job opportunities, we will see a decline in substance abuse and other related challenges facing our young people. As the district municipality, what kind of support do you provide to local municipalities in dealing with unemployment, or rather, how are you ad dressing it? We are doing everything we can to secure assis tance not only from the provincial and national gov ernment but also from the private sector to help cre ate job opportunities for our youth. While I cannot share full details at this stage, I can assure you that we are working hard to open doors that will make it possible for young people to access employment op portunities. Please share with us—what are your roles and re sponsibilities as a district mayor? Our responsibility as a district municipality is to coordinate and support the three local municipalities under our jurisdiction, mainly through intergovern mental coordination. Local government elections are on the way. How prepared are you, and what are your top three pri orities? We are fully prepared for the upcoming local gov ernment elections. One of our top priorities is advo cating for female councillors, particularly in Xhariep. Out of 22 wards in the district, only two are led by women, and we want to change that narrative. We strongly believe that wards led by women tend to perform better than those led by men. How do you plan on improving the overall state of the Xhariep District? The Executive Mayor of Xhariep District Municipality, Irene Mahlomakulu. Picture: Baagedi Setlhora For the past four years, we have consistently re ceived unqualified audits as a district municipality. Our goal now is to achieve a clean audit before the next financial year ends—something we are optimis t ic about. While funding constraints prevent us from always delivering the level of service our communi t ies deserve, we are determined to ensure our Au ditor-General reports reflect sound governance and accountability. You are an avid gender equality activist. What are you doing to curb GBVF in your district? GBVF is a deeply painful issue in Xhariep. As we speak, a woman was recently murdered by her part ner, and I am preparing to visit her family. Sadly, they are considering withdrawing the case because the perpetrator was their breadwinner. This illustrates how complex and heartbreaking the situation is. We are working closely with our Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, who has visited our communities multiple times to plead with men to stop this cycle of violence. We have also begun engaging directly with men in our communities, believing that if men themselves take the lead in confronting GBVF, we may finally see a decline in this scourge that continues to claim the lives of our sisters. Do you think you are ready to serve another term as district mayor? If the organisation that deployed me deems it fit for me to continue in this role in the next executive council term, I will gladly avail myself. Ultimately, the decision rests with the organisation.
Ending months of chaos that saw two mayors, two speakers, and two municipal managers claiming office simultaneously, the council has re-elected ANC’s Morutse as mayor and the EFF’s Bogatsu as speaker
By: JN Reporter
The re-election of Molefe Morutse as mayor of the embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality is being hailed as the start of a turnaround aimed at restoring stability, improving service delivery, and rebuilding public trust after years of dysfunction. His return follows national government intervention, led by former Free State Director-General Kopung Ralikontsane, to address deep-rooted governance failures, financial mismanagement, and service delivery breakdowns. Earlier this month, the Department of Cooperative Governance ordered the election of a new mayor and speaker within 14 days. At a Special Council sitting last week, councillors re-elected Morutse as mayor and Manana Bogatsu as Speaker. The move is intended to end months of chaos that saw two mayors, two speakers, and two municipal managers reporting for duty simultaneously. Morutse was initially elected in March with support from ANC and EFF councillors, even as Mazwi Moruri was still holding the mayoral chain. Ralikontsane, serving as the National Cabinet Repre sentative, welcomed the outcome, noting councillors’ “good cooperation” in consolidating leadership. “We called this meeting to ensure that we demobilise the two mayors and two speakers. The council support ed us in finalising that process. Having a stable council will now allow us to focus on delivering sustainable services to the people of Ditsobotla,” he said. North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi also welcomed the election of the new mayor and speaker, describing it as a crucial step forward for the municipality. The municipality was last month placed under admin istration for the ninth time. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed the appointment of a six-member intervention team, citing the municipality’s inability to fulfill its constitutional obligations to residents. “This is the first time a team of people has come together, bringing a range of expertise. In the past, it was one person at a time. This time, it’s a team effort, and that’s what gives us confidence. It’s what led us to recommend an intervention to cabinet, rather than a dissolution, because never before has a team of experts stepped in to support the municipality,” said Hlabisa. During his visit to the region, Hlabisa stressed that no appointments or tenders will proceed without oversight from the national representative. The drastic intervention, carried out under Section 139(7) of the Constitution, comes after numerous failed attempts by provincial authorities to stabilise the municipality, which serves thousands in and around Lichtenburg. A specialised task force - including the SAPS, State Security Agency, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) - will probe longstanding allegations of fraud, corruption, and misconduct. “Cases previously ignored will be reopened. If arrests are needed, they will happen,” added Hlabisa. The municipality’s senior leadership, including a mu nicipal manager accused of mismanagement, will now face investigation, with the intervention team tasked with enforcing compliance, restoring governance, and re-establishing essential services. Ditsobotla’s collapse mirrors a national crisis in ser vice delivery. According to the Auditor-General, more than 80% of South Africa’s 257 municipalities are financially distressed or plagued by poor governance.
Recipients claim new structures are dilapidating despite being recently built\
By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
New house beneficiaries in the small Free State mining town of Jagersfontein claim that the structures built for them after the 2022 mine wall collapse disaster are not fit for occupation. The recipients claim the new structures are too small and have been poorly constructed. Some of the pain-points raised by them include weak window frames, flawed electricity connections, while f lagging the emergence of visible cracks on the walls as some of the major safety concerns. Joyce Tsotetsi, whose house was wiped away by the mudslide, expressed her dissatisfaction after moving into one of the new houses “These houses are small, and some of us are cramped in there with our furniture. My previous house was not big, but it was spacious and safe. I am not happy at all, and they must come back and fix these houses,” Tsotet si told Journal News. “My children even had to put burglars on my win dows because I live alone with young children,” she said. Tseko Ntelele echoed Tsotetsi’s sentiments, highlight ing faulty electricity connections as his major point of contention. “I use candles because the new houses don’t have a proper electricity connection. I (also) take medica t ion every day, and always have to make fire to cook, because the electricity breaker they put for me is not working.” Another disgruntled house recipient, Thabo Mosala, told Journal News that he feels the houses were hastily constructed without any prior proper planning. He also claims the house he moved into was not fully complet ed. “We don’t feel safe living with our children in these houses because any day now they will fall on us. I even had to move my younger children,” who further claimed his house was not fully completed. The mine collapse incident is regarded as one of the worst mining-related environmental disasters in demo cratic South Africa. Around six million cubic meters of contaminated waste was released into the community creating a cata strophic mudslide. Hundreds of homes were destroyed; f ive people lost their lives, while over 300 people were injured as a result. According to the Kopanong Local Municipality all protocols were apparently followed to ensure that all the victims receive decent homes. Solly Phama, the municipality’s spokesperson, has attempted to allay the recipients’ fears, stating that a competent housing inspector was appointed to guaran Ditsobotla on the Road to Renewal Ending months of chaos that saw two mayors, two speakers, and two municipal managers claiming office simultaneously, the council has re-elected ANC’s Morutse as mayor and the EFF’s Bogatsu as speaker tee compliance during the rebuilding process. This is despite the National Home Builders Regulatory Board (NHBRC) not coming on board to approve the structures. “The municipality tried to involve NHBRC during the rebuilding process. However, residents were left with no choice but to return to their homes as they remained displaced, we are in interaction with the Mine to ensure that corrections are made,” Phama told Journal News. He revealed that the municipality is pursuing legal charges for infrastructure damaged by the mudslide and is in solidarity with the community, working in collabo ration with sector departments to ensure compliance. The company responsible for the mine committed R150 million as compensation to the victims. The victims were also given money to buy new household furniture to replace items lost in the mudslide. “I received a once-off payment of R35 000, and they said they will give us another one in two years. What am I going to do with that little money, since I had a lot of furniture that was in good condition?” questioned Mosala. “I told them that instead of them giving me the mon ey, I can give them the receipts for my furniture, and they will buy it themselves because that money is too little, it’s not even half of what my furniture was worth,” he concluded.
