Free State Targets Surgical Backlogs
The three-day Cataract Marathon, held over the weekend at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, was a great success, with over 100 patients receiving treatment.
Screening was conducted last week Friday with cataract operations scheduled for Saturday and Su...
The African National Congress (ANC)’s national leadership has seized control of the Mangaung elective conference after its dramatic collapse on Saturday.
Delegates from across the region gathered at the Bloem Spa Hotel on Thursday for a three-day conference, which was marred by delays and credential irregularities. Although they had elected the regional top five leadership positions, the outcomes had still not been announced when national deployee Thandi Moraka stepped in at the eleventh hour to announce the cancellation of the conference.
It is alleged that after voting concluded in the early hours of Saturday morning, there was tampering with the ballot box containing delegates’ ballots, along with an attempt to manipulate conference credentials — developments that ultimately led to the collapse of the gathering.
Journal News has reliably learned that about eight additional ballot papers were allegedly inserted into the ballot box by unknown individuals.
“We have found that the ballot box has been tampered with and an extra eight ballot papers were inserted, despite the conference having adopted credentials for 260 voting delegates. Some comrades want to win the conference at all costs, even if it means stealing votes… we can’t allow that to happen,” said a delegate ahead of the reconvening of the conference to announce the voting outcome.
Announcing the abrupt postponement of the conference, Thandi Moraka told delegates that her team had detected irregularities that occurred earlier in the morning and had decided to reconvene the conference on a date yet to be communicated.
“Our team has managed to identify those developments, which I don’t want to go into detail about now. The conference will be duly reconvened because the Regional Task Team (RTT) was dissolved using incorrect credentials. Therefore, comrades, the RTT has been duly reinstated and will continue with the work of uniting this region,” said Moraka.
She added that the NEC would work with the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) to reconvene the Mangaung conference.
Meanwhile, delegates paired convenor Lawrence Mathae and his former deputy Vusi Soqaga in a tightly contested race for regional chairperson during the nomination process, conducted by a show of hands.
For the deputy chairperson position, Vumile Nikelo was nominated to deputise Mathae, while Manthuse Letawana was put forward by the Soqaga faction.
In an eleventh-hour twist, former regional and provincial secretary Paseka Nompondo resurfaced on the Soqaga slate, replacing regional spokesperson Ncamile Nxangisa to challenge incumbent Sabelo Pitso for the position of regional secretary.
Another surprise nomination emerged in the race for deputy regional secretary, with Lulama Titi-Odili abandoning her bid for chairperson to face Deliwe Mei for the deputy secretary position.
However, for the position of regional treasurer, delegates rallied behind Setjhaba Machakela, who would have been elected unopposed had the conference not collapsed.
Free State MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, has been appointed acting Premier of the province for the next two weeks.
Mbalula was sworn in on Monday at the Free State Division of the High Court, where he officially assumed the role.
He will serve in the position while Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae undertakes official duties in Italy and China from 4 to 14 May.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Director-General Dr Molefinyane Phera and Acting Deputy Director-General for Corporate Administration, Advocate Kuni Ditira. The appointment was officiated by Judge President Cagney John Musi.
Meanwhile, MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs Elzabe Rockman has also been sworn in as acting MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.
Rockman will serve in the acting role for the same period as Mbalula.
The Acting District Commissioner of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, welcomed the sentence of the two cousins who were sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of rape.
Kelopile Thamage and Omphile Thamage’s sentence comes after they were accused of raping an 18-year-old woman who was walking home from a tavern in Kuruman on 18 March 2023.
It is reported that the two cousins, both aged 25 at the time of the incident, approached the victim along the way and asked her to wait for them.
“After catching up with her, the trio walked together briefly before they forcefully dragged her to one of their homes, where they took turns raping her. After the ordeal, the victim managed to escape and reported the matter to the police. A case of rape was subsequently registered, leading to the arrest of both suspects,” said police spokesperson.
The victim reported that she was with friends when the accused called her and forced her to accompany him to a friend’s house, when she resisted, he threatened her with a knife.
She narrated that while walking, a neighbour noticed the altercation and attempted to intervene, but the accused ignored the warning.
“The victim later managed to break free and ran home, with the accused in pursuit. He followed her into the house, forced open her bedroom door after she had locked herself inside, but fled when family members intervened,” read the statement.
A case of attempted rape was opened at Kuruman Police Station, which ultimately led to conviction and a sentence of eight years’ direct imprisonment.
Both cases were investigated by Detective Constable Beuty Majola of the Kuruman Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
Baloyi commended Detective Constable Majola for her dedication and further encouraged other members to demonstrate the same level of commitment in the execution of their duties.
Strong performance signals resilience despite global uncertainty
Capitec Bank has delivered an impressive financial performance, reporting a 23% increase in headline earnings to R16.8 billion for the financial year ending February 2026.
The growth was largely fuelled by strong gains in interest income, supported by favourable interest rate conditions throughout 2025. Despite rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, CEO Graham Lee remains confident in the bank’s ability to maintain its upward trajectory.
A standout driver behind the results has been increased credit card usage, alongside the bank’s zero-fee international offering, which has gained traction among customers. Lee expressed optimism about continued credit demand, noting that South Africa’s economy had shown encouraging signs of recovery before global tensions began to escalate.
While acknowledging potential economic pressure in the months ahead, Lee emphasised that challenging conditions often create new opportunities.
“In difficult times, there are many opportunities,” he said, pointing to growing demand from both businesses seeking funding and consumers looking for greater value from their banks.
Beyond traditional banking, Capitec continues to expand its footprint through diversification. The bank reported 38% growth in both insurance and fintech income, while its mobile network offering, Capitec Connect, has reached 1.5 million active users.
Its business banking division is also gaining momentum, with client numbers rising by 71% to 456,000, reflecting increased confidence among small and medium-sized enterprises.
Lee, who took over from former CEO Gerrie Fourie nine months ago, described the role as both demanding and rewarding. He credited the bank’s success to a strong internal culture, highlighting alignment, shared values and teamwork as key drivers behind its continued growth.
As global uncertainties persist, Capitec’s latest results position it as one of South Africa’s standout financial performers — balancing resilience with strategic expansion in a shifting economic landscape.
This article was originally posted by the Business Report
Rising diesel costs and supply shortages put pressure on farmers ahead of key planting seasons
South Africa’s agricultural sector has raised serious concerns over a growing fuel crisis that could disrupt both winter and summer crop production, despite temporary relief measures introduced by government.
Industry bodies AgriSA and Agbiz say the extension of fuel levy relief until June offers short-term financial breathing room for farmers and consumers. However, they warn that the intervention does little to address deeper structural challenges facing the sector.
Among the most pressing issues are unreliable diesel supply, rising input costs, and increasing global oil prices — factors partly driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Surveys conducted among farmers and fuel distributors highlight that price volatility, supply reliability, and production costs remain the sector’s biggest concerns.
Ongoing disruptions in the fuel supply chain are already being felt on farms. Delayed deliveries, restricted allocations, and reduced volumes are forcing some farmers to operate with less fuel than required. This has resulted in operational delays during critical planting and production periods.
The impact is expected to be particularly visible in the upcoming winter planting season. Early data suggests that wheat plantings for the 2026/27 season could decline by around 6% — potentially the lowest level recorded in over a decade. Analysts attribute this to a combination of weak global prices, rising costs, and growing uncertainty in the production environment.
Any delays caused by fuel shortages or reduced input usage could further weigh on overall output.
Looking ahead, the outlook for the summer crop season is equally uncertain. Continued fuel constraints and price volatility pose a significant risk, even as South Africa is projected to harvest a record 20.8 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds in the current 2025/26 season.
While this bumper harvest may provide temporary stability for food supply and pricing, experts caution that future production cycles could be compromised if underlying challenges are not addressed.
Diesel remains a critical input across the agricultural value chain — from planting and irrigation to harvesting and transport. As a result, supply disruptions and rising costs have an immediate and direct impact on production levels.
Many farmers are already adapting to the pressure by cutting back on production, reducing input usage, dipping into financial reserves, and exploring alternative energy solutions.
AgriSA and Agbiz have called for a coordinated response to stabilise the sector. This includes ensuring consistent fuel supply, improving transparency in distribution, and addressing logistical bottlenecks that continue to hinder operations.
They have also welcomed the ongoing review of the fuel pricing model, stressing the need for future regulations to better reflect the realities faced by agricultural producers.
Despite the mounting challenges, both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to working with government and industry stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of South Africa’s agricultural sector and safeguard its role in food security and economic growth.
This article was originally posted by The Business Report
Fifth Suspect Arrested After Murder of North West Couple in Butchery
A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a business couple from Mahikeng, who were shot dead during a robbery at their butchery last week.
According to police, the 32-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday (30 April) in Itsoseng. He is expected to appear in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 4 May, facing charges of murder, business robbery, and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The incident took place on Friday (24 April), when Sergio and Marlene Gomes were shot during a robbery at their butchery. Marlene died at the scene, while Sergio later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh said the couple had reportedly rushed to the butchery after receiving information that their son was being robbed there. Upon arrival, they were allegedly forced inside the premises by armed suspects.
The suspects reportedly stole cellphones, cash, a laptop, and vehicle keys before fleeing the scene.
The couple’s stolen Ford Ranger was later found abandoned in Magogwe, while some of the stolen cellphones were recovered in a nearby field.
Four other suspects, aged between 21 and 37, were arrested earlier on Wednesday (29 April) during intelligence-driven operations in a settlement near Mmabatho.
Police recovered four firearms during the arrests, including a pistol linked to one of the victims.
The four accused appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and remain in custody. They are expected to return to court on Wednesday, 6 May, for a formal bail application.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that further arrests cannot be ruled out.
