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...
Construction has officially commenced on the long-anticipated road development projects in Mangaung, marking a significant step toward improving local infrastructure and easing traffic congestion.
The projects, led by the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s Infrastructure Services Department, aim to upgrade key transport routes, enhance road safety, and create job opportunities for the surrounding communities during their implementation.
Director of Infrastructure Services Councillor Vusi Soqaga says the 17 contractors have been appointed to tackle minor maintenance across the metro and calls for patience from motorists.
“We have started with several rehabilitation projects in the metro. These projects will, for some time, cause an interruption in the flow of traffic. We call on motorists to exercise patience on the road. It is our responsibility to get the city working and being attractive for investors,” said Soqaga.
He said other big roads in Bloemfontein that require revamping and maintenance, such as the Dr Belcher Road, will be attended to.
“Conditional assessment informs the prioritisation of the sections that must be attended, and Dr. Belcher will be attended to following this principle because we are operating within stringent resources,” he said.
The City, in partnership with the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, has implemented a major R202 million rehabilitation construction of the N8 road entering the city’s Central Business District (CBD).
According to the departmental spokesperson, Hillary Mophethe, the construction has a set completion date of April 2026.
“The completion of the construction on the N8 road is expected in April next year, with a target of 3500 job opportunities created from all projects in the province combined. Commuters within the province will finally be brought relief,” said Mophethe.
The succession battle within the African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State is heating up, with early formations of alliances and factions swiftly emerging as ambitious officials jostle for leadership positions.
Despite denials from the ANC leadership in the province, who claim that it is still too early to entertain succession battles at this point in time, Journal News has been reliably informed of developments surrounding the formation of factions who intend to wrestle for power and control of Kaizer Sebothelo House - the ANC’s provincial headquarters in the Free State - when the organisation goes to its elective conference in 2027.
It has further been revealed that former Provincial Secretary and current ANC Head of Presidency, Sibongile Besani, is eyeing the provincial top spot and has been lobbying branches to support him instead of the current Chairperson, Mxolisi Dukwana, who has secretly thrown his name in the hat ahead of the official launch of the campaign.
Besani is said to be playing a unifier role between the Kaizer Sebothelo faction and the other faction now known as the ‘O.R Tambo’ faction, led by current Free State Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae.
The O.R Tambo clique, aptly named after the provincial government headquarters and thus in control of the government in the province, is expected to battle with the Kaizer Sebothelo House faction, which is named after the party’s provincial head office and led by Dukwana and Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng.
Besani was at the forefront of the Regime Change group that challenged Ace Magashule’s reign in the province in 2012, teaming up with Dukwana and current Mangaung Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi, who was serving as MK Veterans’ Association provincial chairperson at the time.
However, according to a source close to the matter, branches are questioning his reliability following his ‘no-show’ ahead of the 2012 conference, which is largely seen as betrayal by party members.
It is alleged that the then-trusted and supported chairmanship contender (Besani) failed to withdraw from the race at the last minute, leaving Nthatisi on the battlefield to face erstwhile ANC Free State chairperson, Ace Magashule.
“Many questions are being raised about Comrade Besani and branches are not happy that his name is being thrown at them and lobbied to support him,” a trusted source placed inside the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) tells Journal News.
He added that the current Treasurer-General of the ANC Women’s League, Letsoha-Mathae, on the other hand, has been receiving more support for the chairmanship office due to her vast popularity across the province and branches of the liberation movement.
Letsoha-Mathe is believed to be enjoying support from the party’s biggest region of Thabo Mofutsanyana, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), amongst others. They collectively praise her for her decisiveness and willingness to change the lives of the people.
Moreover, the ANCWL believes that she stands a good chance of becoming the first ever woman chairperson in the Free State.
Letsoha-Mathae rose to prominence in the provincial politics after her successful move to dethrone Dukwana from the premier position, less than a year after his ascent to the top office.
This, according to those sympathetic to Dukwana, was a result of latter’s indecisiveness and lack of leadership skills, including his refusal to uplift people who promoted him.
Other contenders for the chairmanship include Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Mohai and MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport Jabu Mbalula.
Following his previous ambitions and contestation to lead the province, Nthatisi’s name has resurfaced in the corridors, although with no certainty on whether he will stand again at the upcoming elective conference or not.
Another source added that Besani and Mbalula are seen as dark horses in the race while Mohai, on the other hand, is perceived to be a noteworthy contender.
“Besani has seen the opportunity and is taking advantage of the weaknesses of the incumbent (Dukwana). However, despite his aspirations to become the provincial chairman, Comrade Mohai has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and is perceived as being in the right race (sic),” said a source.
The Letsoha-Mathae faction – on the other side - has recently thrown its weight behind the Secretary-General’s ambition to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as the party president in December 2027.
This comes after Letsoha-Mathae was spotted singing slogans alongside the Thabo Mofutsanyana regional leadership, backing Mbalula for ANC presidency during a celebratory event in honour of Mokete Andrew Mlangeni, a Rivonia Trialist and lifelong ANC freedom fighter
Speaking to Journal News this week, ANC Provincial Spokesperson Thabo Meeko dismissed as “nothing but rumours” assertions that comrades have started campaigning for leadership positions.
“Those things are nothing but rumours from people who have nothing to do and want to derail our focus. The ANC is focusing on ensuring a decisive victory in the upcoming Local Government Elections and has not opened campaigns for leadership positions yet,” said Meeko.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry, established by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption within the South African Police Service, has received widespread criticism regarding whether it will lead to accountability and any subsequent prosecutions.
This judicial commission, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, together with Advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo, is expected to bring transparency despite having two reports on investigations into similar shortcomings that have not yielded any positive outcomes.
Some of the popular commissions of inquiry established by the president since he served in his term, are the State Capture report better known as the Zondo Commission which was established to investigate corruption and fraud in the public sector in 2018 and National Anti-corruption advisory council report which was established to investigate Covid-19 tender fraud in 2022 which have not led to any arrests to date.
Last Sunday, Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the commission and placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and National Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya on leave of absence after KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu and Sibiya of being in the pockets of criminals and abruptly disbanding an effective political killing task team during a media briefing.
Mkhwanazi, during his explosive media briefing earlier this month, accused Mchunu of corruption and political interference within the SAPS and protecting a drug cartel operating in the country. Ramaphosa has in the interim appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police. Political Parties have come out guns blazing, saying they have no confidence that this commission will hold the police officials accountable.
DA leader John Steenhuisen welcomed the special leave announcement but criticised the commission of inquiry’s formation, saying these commissions are usually seen as buying time and avoiding accountability.
“The DA will not accept a years-long process that gathered damning evidence only to deliver zero accountability. The country cannot afford another elaborate filing cabinet of findings that gathers dust while the politically connected escape justice. The DA will hold the president to account on every finding and recommendation made by this committee, and we will fight in cabinet and parliament for swift and visible action,” said Steenhuisen.
Spokesperson for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, accused Ramaphosa of having failed to take South Africans into confidence.
“This president had an opportunity to take South Africa into confidence and to deal with these issues decisively. Instead, he calls for a commission of inquiry, and he expects South Africa to be patient when people are dying daily,” Ndlela said.
As part of their commitment to empowering communities, the South African Women in Construction Free State (SAWIC) is dedicated to making a positive impact on society by uplifting women, youth, and people with disabilities.
On Mandela Day (18 July 2025), members of the organisation came together to spend their 67 minutes at the Phelang Disability Home in Bloemfontein.
Pictured is the founder of Phelang Dissability Home, Motlalepule Motlolometsi, HOD of Free State Treasury Department Pakiso Lebone and Sawic Chairperson Mathabo Baadjies.
They donated tangible goods, food hampers, and volunteered to help with feeding the children at the home.
“We chose the Phelang Disability Home because of its ongoing support in the community. It truly reflects one of our important values: community service and upliftment,” said Mathabo Baatjies, Chairperson of SAWIC FS.
Baatjies emphasised that the organisation selected Phelang Disability Home because such facilities are often overlooked, forgotten, and under-appreciated. SAWIC wanted to spend their 67 minutes there to bring hope and just put a smile on their faces.
“The women of SAWIC pledged to embrace what many consider lost hope. Our aim today was to remind them that they are seen, respected, and valued.
“We would like to thank Phelang Disability Home for allowing us to celebrate this day with them, and we appreciate everyone who collaborated with us to ensure the success of today’s event.
“As SAWIC FS, we encourage more stakeholders to partner with us in creating a South Africa where equality, dignity, and opportunities are accessible to all, especially women, youth, and people with disabilities, said Baadjies.
In the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy of compassion and service, Busamed Private Hospital marked Mandela Day with a powerful act of kindness, launching of an ongoing UniversalCare@Busamed programme, offering life-changing surgeries to patients in need.
This heartfelt initiative not only honoured Madiba’s vision of equality and dignity for all but also brought hope and healing to individuals who needed life-changing surgeries and were either on a long waiting list in public hospitals or might otherwise not have had access to critical medical care.
It is through this programme that surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, and other hospital teams at Busamed donated their time for 67 surgeries to 67 community members in honor of Mandela Day.
All procedures were offered at no cost to the patients while Busamed’s industry partners sponsored medical consumables and pharmaceuticals. Breast reduction, cataract procedures, and circumcisions, among others, are procedures that were done in honor of Mandela Day.
Amanda van Rensburg, manager of Busamed Bram Fischer International Airport Hospital, emphasized that the launch of the programme matches with their purpose.
“We are all about empowering youth, our staff, and the community so that we all have the opportunity to lead a healthy life. A lot of people don’t have high-level medical aid and cannot afford private health care,” she said.
Through this initiative, Vuyiswa Sethunya (a mother of two) brought her two children for the circumcision procedure as they had been on a waiting list in a government hospital.
“My youngest son was sick a lot last year, and the doctors told me that he needs to be circumcised. He’s been on a waiting list since late last year. I am very thankful to the hospital for helping us and doing the procedure on both my children,” said Sethunya.
Employees were also allowed to volunteer for their 67 minutes in any capacity, whether within their professional role or in support activities.
Mpho Ngoae works in the hospital’s HR department and donated his time to serve as a porter, helping transport patients from the theatre to their post-operative rooms.
Dr Pungutche and Dr Mogorosi were among the doctors and anaesthetists who did the surgeries. They expressed that they were part of this initiative to give back to the communities.
UniversalCare@Busamed will now be used to help underprivileged individuals in need of life-changing surgeries have access to better health care.
Several political and civil organisations are expected to descend on the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, in support of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
This comes after Mkhwanazi made explosive allegations of political interference in police investigations.
He also claimed that a drug syndicate exists with links to politicians and members of the judiciary.
More than 10 organisations are expected to march through the streets of Pretoria on Friday, demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa take action to protect the KZN police commissioner.
Among those taking part are the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, the United Independent Movement and other civil society groups who plan to deliver their demands at the Union Buildings.
Concerns have been raised over Mkhwanazi’s safety following his revelations.
He's since been granted additional security with police officers stationed at his home amid fears of possible threats.
The MK Party has also been embarking on what it calls a national shutdown, urging the president to leave no stone unturned in addressing the alleged political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Pictured is the founder of Phelang Dissability Home, Motlalepule Motlolometsi, HOD of Free State Treasury Department Pakiso Lebone and Sawic Chairperson Mathabo Baadjies.
