He was arrested last week when police, based in Worcester, conducted a stop and search on a vehicle, where they found and confiscated various marine life.
A man arrested for the illegal possession of marine life is set to appear at the Worcester Magistrate's Court on Monday.
He was arrested last week when police, based in Worcester, conducted a stop and search on a vehicle, where they found and confiscated various marine life.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said this included the illegal possession of abalone.
“The vehicle, a maroon in colour Volkswagen Beetle, was stopped on the Aan De Doorns Extension Road, Johnson’s Park. The members searched the vehicle and found 287 units abalone, ten galjoen fish and 180 ale kurk in the vehicle.”
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The province’s economy has grown at a slow, yet very steady pace
By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
The Free State is continuing to position itself as a prime business location, having projected steady economic growth in recent years.
Despite the poor governance performance of several local municipalities - as highlighted by the recent visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to the province - the Free State economy has shown to be on an upward trajectory largely due to the stability and resilience of its agriculture and tourism sectors.
According to the economist and deputy president of the Truckers Association of South Africa (TASA), Tony Modise, the province’s economy has shown modest albeit uneven growth recently.
"In 2022, the Free State economy grew by at least 1.5%, after it had dropped by 0.1% in 2023. This makes it one of the slowest-growing provinces in the country.
“The main cause of this weak performance is the decline in mining output, which traditionally played a major role in the province’s GDP.
"Load shedding, ageing infrastructure, and underinvestment in the mining sector have accelerated this decline. Additionally, structural challenges in logistics, inefficiencies in the public sector, and limited private sector investment are further hindering economic progress," he told Journal News.
Modise pointed out that regions such as the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Lejweleputswa District Municipality, as well as local municipalities such as Masilonyana, amongst others, can potentially boost the economic standing of the province as they have vast agricultural and mining areas.
He said the latter can only happen if infrastructure and special economic zones (SEZ) projects are developed at a faster pace, while rolling out efforts to curb unemployment in the province.
“The Free State province stands at a critical inflexion point, and it is also facing structural constraints such as high unemployment and declining mining output, amongst others. It also has increasing opportunities in agriculture, renewable energy, and logistics,” he said.
By: Lerato Mutlanyane
The rapid mushrooming of new black-led political parties in South Africa has sparked debate over whether this trend strengthens democracy through broader representation or weakens collective influence by splintering the black electorate to the benefit of minority groups.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, the country had over 600 registered political parties before March this year. Of these, 383 were registered at the national level, while the remaining 226 were registered at either the provincial or municipal level.
Former president Jacob Zuma, who used to lead the ruling African National Congress (ANC), surprised many when he emerged as the leader of the fledgling uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP), whose entry into domestic politics saw them eating significantly into the ANC’s voter base and subsequently unseating them in Zuma’s political stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal.
The MKP garnered almost 15% of the national vote, thus contributing significantly to the ANC’s decline to 40.2% - a record low for the ruling party since it assumed power in 1994.
Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM), which was launched by former Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) and MKP heavyweight, Floyd Shivambu, on 5 September 2025, is now the newest kid on the block. Following a countrywide consultative campaign that began in June this year, AMM has now officially entered the political fray to also establish a voter base within the black electorate.
Seasoned political commentator Professor Sethulago Matebesi from the University of the Free State (UFS) said that despite there being 200 smaller parties contesting general elections in South Africa, their respective impact remains insignificant and often only serves to mislead the electorate.
He cautioned that beyond misleading voters and diluting black political power, many smaller parties risk being influenced by funders with questionable backgrounds who have little interest in advancing the black agenda.
“It is the nature of politics that whoever funds political parties usually has an interest — and in most cases, it is not to advance the so-called black agenda. Rather, it may be to control these parties and dictate terms to them.
“If that is the case, it would be unfortunate, because it carries serious implications for our politics and the future of this country. Even with over 200 smaller parties contesting elections, their impact is negligible. Instead, they mislead their voters and everyone associated with them. I still have to find a funder without vested interests in such a party,” said Professor Matebesi when approached for comment by Journal News.
While electorate fragmentation weakens established movements and supposedly misleads voters, other narratives suggest that it also has the potential to enrich South Africa’s political culture by holding dominant parties accountable, while amplifying diverse voices and strengthening multiparty democracy.
Therefore, the surge of black-led political parties reflects both the vibrancy and the vulnerability of South Africa’s democracy. The challenge for South Africa, therefore, lies in finding a balance between embracing political diversity and safeguarding unity to ensure that democracy remains both representative and effective.
By: Abigail Visagie
Residents of Heidedal, Bloemfontein, were left shocked after the discovery of a decomposed female torso and legs found floating in the flooded basement of a dilapidated nightclub in the area.
The remains were reportedly discovered on Friday afternoon by two children playing near the nightclub, who noticed what appeared to be a body floating in the basement.
They immediately informed nearby adults, who alerted the police.
According to traumatised residents, the abandoned building has been a source of concern for years, with claims that several unidentified bodies were previously discovered inside.
One community member, who asked not to be named, said the building had become a hideout for homeless people and criminals since its closure.
“We don’t know how many people have been killed and dumped in that basement. It is frightening to think our children play around there, not knowing what they might discover or whether they could become victims themselves. I plead with the authorities to demolish the building,” the resident said.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said the Bloemfontein Diving and Rescue Unit was dispatched to assist in recovering the remains due to the challenging conditions at the scene. He confirmed that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition, consisting only of a torso and legs.
“The victim was wearing multi-coloured leggings and a single Soviet sneaker on her left foot. An inquest has been opened, and a thorough investigation is underway,” Kareli said.
Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist in identifying the deceased to contact Captain Wilson at the Heidedal police station on 082 553 6307.
By: Refilwe Mochoari
Spokesperson to the Free State Premier Matshediso Setai says she will stop at nothing to ensure that she ends corruption within the seventh administration of the Free State provincial government.
“There is no doubt that when I came into this position in December last year, this government was under siege, and right now I am an enemy of the state because I have closed the taps of corruption.
“I want to make it clear to you right now, I did not forge anybody’s signature.
“There is clearly a smear campaign against my name, and the people who created these lies are clearly against progress,” Setai said.
Setai emphasised that not a cent of the current administration will be stolen under her watch.
Setai said this after allegations circulated on different media platforms, accusing her of fraud and forgery in soliciting funds from the Free State Department of Education for a content creators symposium that took place in Bloemfontein between 3 and 6 September 2025.
The reports accuse Setai of fraudulently crafting a letter, forging the signature of former Acting Director-General Dr Mafole Mokalobe in the office of the Premier, and sending it to the department head, Advocate Tshwarelo Malakoane.
The letter which is in the possession of Journal News states, “….As part of our collaborative approach, the office of the Premier is extending an invitation to your organisation (Free State Department of Education) to support this event through in-kind support. We would greatly appreciate contributions such as any other goods or services that would enhance the success of the colloquium…..”
In an interview with Journal News, Setai says intergovernmental relations are nothing new.
“We have done the integrated approach before, where we ask other departments to collaborate with progressive programmers - there is nothing new here.”
She detailed how the department was approached by a group of “young” people who came up with the Digital Content Creator Colloquium which aimed to empower other young people in the digital technology space.
“They initially approached the President’s office, and then they were referred to their province’s Premier, and because it was just before youth month, we were prepared to partner with them.
“We then wrote a letter to the department of education asking for any kind of donation.
“We were hoping that the education department would pay for photography and videography services for that particular event.
“ We were then asked by the Chief Financial Officer in the Education department to amend the letter and make space for the HOD to sign, but not change the date.
“We edited the same letter and made provision for the HOD’s signature, kept the June date and because Molalobe was no longer acting as the DG, we sent the letter with no signature back to the education department.
“No one signed the second letter. I do not know who came up with these stories of forgery and it is clear that these corrupt officials are after me, and it is a political agenda against my name.
“As it is, I would like to state that the Digital Content Creators Colloquium received no funding from the office of the Premier and as a result the initiative was adopted by the Gauteng Provincial Government, because it is a brilliant initiative which aims to empower the youth,” Setai concluded.
… Authorities accused of turning a blind eye on blatant racial killing that contrasts false ‘white genocide’ narrative
By: Abigail Visagie
Abigail VisagieGreat public concern is rising over the silence of political parties and government following the killing of a black farmworker by a ‘racist’ white farmer in Kroonstad recently.
A decomposed body of black man, who has since been identified as Thabo Mashiya from Lesotho, was discovered in a shallow grave on a farm between Kroonstad and Welkom on 20 August 2025.
The owner of the farm, an 80-year-old retired doctor who has been described as blatant racist by his workers, was arrested and later granted R15 000 bail with the case being postponed to 9 October 2025 for further investigations to proceed.
It is alleged that farmer’s 17-year-old grandson, who is a minor, is the actual perpetrator in this murder incident and the farmer’s name is being withheld to protect the identity of this young perpetrator. They both face multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, reckless endangerment, and contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.
Given the prevailing silence that has shrouded the incident since the farmer was granted bail, members of the public have come out to express their concern over the lack of attention this matter is receiving. More especially following the false news reports peddled by white right-wing organisations of a ‘white genocide’ that is currently taking place in South Africa.
South Africa was turned into a global spectacle over these false claims with the United States president Donald Trump imposing these untruthful assertions on Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation in the White House.
Critics have warned that this silence by political parties and government not only undermines justice but also emboldens perpetrators to carry out rural violence.
Community members in surrounding areas where this heinous racial crime was committed believe that failure to address the attack risks further damaging South Africa’s credibility abroad - particularly as conflicting narratives circulate internationally.
“Just a few months ago, nearly every political party made headlines over alleged farm killings targeting white farmers, but now that the roles are reversed and a white person is implicated, silence reigns as if nothing happened,” said one resident in Maokeng township, Kroonstad.
When the veil came off this incident, the elderly farmer implicated himself by publicly confessed to have killed black people before, under the pretext of being attacked on his farm.
He told the SABC: “I feel very bad because this is the second attack. The first time … the attacker shot at me from outside my house and missed because of his angle. I came back with a shotgun, and I killed him. If I am a farmer and you attack me, I will kill.”
Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has since questioned the dubious narrative that the farmer claims to have killed in ‘self-defence’.
“I don’t understand why our leadership is not acting on this. No one seems to care about what transpired here and how this is potentially going to damage the country,” said a resident who asked not to be named.
Journal News reached out to political parties, who stressed that crime in South Africa should not be viewed through the lens of race but rather as a threat to the safety and well-being of all communities.
Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader in the Free State, Jan van Niekerk, believes that the impact of farm killings on rural communities is severe, regardless of the victims or perpetrators.
“Our position remains consistent: farm murders and rural crime should be prioritised and addressed with urgency by government and law enforcement. Protecting the lives of all South Africans, irrespective of race, must come first.”
Roy Jankielsohn, the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province, is of the view that race only seems to take precedence only when a white person commits a crime against a person of colour.
“The DA has always maintained that crime has no race and that perpetrators should face the same consequences as any other criminal once proven guilty in court - regardless of race or gender,” he said.
Jankielsohn added that it is important not to ignore the fact that most farm attacks involve severe torture and brutality inflicted on white victims.
“It may be time for political parties such as the EFF to focus on why this brutality is directed at white people and to work towards common ground, because safety is more important than race, gender or skin colour,” he said.
The African National Congress (ANC) had not responded to Journal News at time of publishing this article.
