The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for policy changes to bring about change to the country's current Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies of the ANC.
On Monday, the party slammed the current policies, which it said only benefitted a few politically-connected individuals.
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The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Tra ditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena, has handed over a range of environmental tools to the Masilonyana Local Municipality to help empower communities in maintaining cleaner, healthier environments and strengthening local service delivery. As part of a departmental outreach programme held at Majwemasweu in Slovo Park Extension 5, Brandfort, earlier this week, the municipality re ceived 25 wheelbarrows, 20 chainsaws, 20 petrol bush cutters, and other tools. Mokoena said the handover would support Community Work Programme (CWP) workers who had long requested the equipment. He urged both workers and residents to safeguard the tools as a shared community resource. “These tools are meant for the improvement of the community; they are not given to individu als for personal use. It is very important to report anyone who misuses or attempts to sell them,” Mokoena stressed. He added that government’s efforts were aimed at restoring dignity to the people and en suring they live in an environment they can be proud of. Community member Lucky Klass welcomed the initiative but called for greater focus on the youth. “I came here because I wanted to know how this would benefit the young people sitting around without jobs. I did not come to hear only about CWP,” he said. Alongside the handover, the department part nered with Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) to install 1,943 water meters, a sewer network with 20.57 km of pipes, a fibre duct, and other infrastructure. The R167-million project, initially scheduled for completion at the end of Septem ber, was finalised three months early, creating temporary jobs for local residents during con struction. “This reflects not only the technical success of the project but also its significant socio-economic impact, particularly in terms of job creation and skills development,” Mokoena said. The informal settlement upgrading project will be extended to other municipalities.
Farmworkers Black labourers bemoan rampant racism and unjust labour practices at white-owned farms
By: Abigail Visagie
The recent incident involving a white farmer who allegedly killed and buried a 25-year-old man in a shallow grave on his farm has pulled the veil off the widespread racism and ill-treatment that black farmworkers endure at farms in South Africa. The prevalent injustices that casually take place on farms include racial abuse and unfair labour practices. On the sidelines of the ongoing case at the Kroon stad Magistrate’s court, two farmworkers who work for the alleged suspect whose grandson allegedly murdered the abovementioned victim on their farm, claim to consistently endure racial abuse on the farm, while receiving meagre financial compensation for their hard labour. Women fund launched to empower entrepreneurs White farmers are being exposed for racism and bad labour practices Picture: Baagedi Setlhora “He loosely used the K-word when he refers to us and even refers to poor white people as ‘wit K*ffirs’ (white K-word),” said one of the farm workers. They mentioned that the suspect also refers to them as birds and once he has his gun, he uses phrases like “I’m going to hunt for some birds now,” referring to the farm workers. The farm workers further alleged that their salary amounts to R5000. “If we’re late by just a minute, he deducts R600 from our salaries. “Some of our family members who are also working on the farm haven’t been paid for two months and whenever they inquire, the farmer calls them ungrate ful K*ffirs,” said the other worker, as they alternated in their respective responses. “You can see how much we are hated by the farmer simply by his actions. He does not want us there but is forced to have us there since he needs the farm maintained,” The farm worker further mentioned that there are no payslips and that their payslips along with the deductions are written on a doctor’s note. A reliable source who’s also a resident of Kroonstad, alleged that the suspect, a medical doctor by profes sion, also refuses to assist people of colour and would keep a distance between people of colour and himself if they’re in a queue together. In a separate incident, 36-year-old Pieter Cloete (not his real name) who works on a farm in Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, mentioned that white farmers often show superiority in the most unconventional ways. When I inquire about this, my boss deducts money from my salary, which is literally R300 for two days,” said a disgruntled Cloete. Cloete, a husband and father of four said that he stopped attending school meetings because he can no longer even afford to pay for school fees. “I am dis graced when I look at my children because I can’t even buy them birthday gifts or school shoes, nothing. The fact that my boss’ children are well taken care of while mine suffer in agony clearly indicates that the white farmers really hate us and do not want to see us grow and contribute to the economy,” said Cloete. The farmworker who has been desperately hanging onto this job, mentioned that one of his colleagues requested an emergency leave and was dismissed immediately on the spot. “Whenever you mention issues of a delay in salaries, not being registered with labour or simply requesting for time off, you get dismissed and unfortunately, there is no one to hear our concerns because we are even disregarded by our own society,” said Cloete. Another anonymous farmworker from Bloemspruit mentioned that he has no qualms with his boss but the wife who oversees their administration often uses the K-word when referring to them and multiple racial slurs. The anonymous worker further highlighted that he too has not yet been registered with the department of labour and is afraid to mention this to his superiors as he fears to lose his job. recommended. It creates certainty on the terms and conditions of employment that will bind the employer and employee. The employer can enter two types of contracts with a farm worker: a permanent contract for an indefinite term and a fixed-term contract for a specific period (seasonal work), which shall end on a predetermined date- something that most farm workers are struggling to obtain. 34-year-old Amos Phali* was recently dismissed on a farm in Bainsvlei after he was caught simply speaking to an official of department of labour which he claims he personally knew. “The mind set of white farmers remain the same: Us and them and unfortunately we experience hatred f irsthand as farm workers,” said Phali. Phali further stipulated that regardless of thirty years of freedom, farm workers bear the grunt of Apartheid notions where the white employer does not even hide finding the black worker intolerable. “The moment my employer caught me talking to a dear friend who so happens to be a labour official, he physically threw me off his farm, saying that I was disobedient and cannot follow rules. That time, he knew how badly I needed this job since I just had a baby, if this doesn’t show hatred, I don’t know what does,” said Phali. Free State MEC for Small Business and Economic Development Toto Makume. Picture: Baagedi Setlhora By: Abigail Visagie MEC for Small Business and Economic De velopment Toto Makume was among the delegates who attended the launch of the R30 million Women Entrepreneurship Fund launched by Minister of Small Business Stella Nd abeni Abrahams last week in Mpumalanga. Makume says the fund is aimed at formalising informal businesses and enhancing capacity build ing progress in small businesses. In a one-on-one interview with Journal News, Makume said the fund aims to close the gender gap in access to finance and elevate women-led enterprises across South Africa’s business land scape. “I’ve worked for my deceased boss for 20 years and I’m still not registered with the department of Labour. “I can see the hatred in Mevrou’s eyes when we speak to her and I even let it be when my salary is delayed because I am not educated and I cannot afford to lose my job,” said the anonymous worker. According to the Consolidated Employer’s Organ isation, a formal contract of employment is highly “I thought it was normal to use the K-word since that is what Mevrou calls us all the time.” These are the words of an anonymous Bainsvlei farmworker who seemed confused when it was high lighted that using the K-word or other racial slurs are considered a serious crime in South Africa. The increasingly deep-rooted hatred towards black people becomes more evident as killings of black farm workers sky rocket.
Learners speak out despite alleged threats from school Principal
By: Abigail Visagie
Tensions continue to at St. Bernards’s High School in Bloemfontein, where more learners have emerged to lay complaints and sexual harassment charges against predatory educators. One such learner is 19-year-old Lesedi Mohlakoa na who was sexually harassed by an educator while at her matric camp back in 2024. The educator in question allegedly requested Mohlakoana to send him naked images of herself. After declining the educator’s requests and inap propriate advances multiple times, the educator al legedly resorted to sending naked photos of himself to the pupil. His persistence pushed Mohlakoana to take matters into her own hands and she posted about this incident on 10 August 2025, urging other girls to speak out against predacious teachers. “I saw he was surrounded by a lot of children and seemed to be a (normal) teacher, so I decided to break this cycle before it happens to another child,” she told Journal News. Mohlakoana now fears to enrol at university as she now believes that this inappropriate behaviour by educators is probably a norm everywhere. Another pupil, Kgomotso Mokobe, who was in grade 12 at the St Bernard’s received a direct message on social media from the same educator confessing his undying love and feelings for the pupil. “He once called me to his office and asked me to close the door. When I refused to, he closed it himself and confessed his feelings directly to me, mentioning that he felt this way about me since I was grade 8. I only decided to act upon his feelings now because it was the right time,” said Mokobe. Emotions of disgust flushed through Mokobe as she recalled this incident. “I was very uncomfortable and just wanted to exit the room, but he forced the door close and begged to speak to me,” said Mokobe. On 21 August 2025, Mapaseka Feldman, was also followed on social media by the very same educa tor who harassed Mokobe. inappropriate for a teacher to send learners such derogatory content, my friend said maybe he mis took the girl in the video for me, but I still believed that it did not give him the right to send such sexual content to me.” Feldman briskly escaped a horrible experience with the educator by immediately blocking his messages and his profile. Ntswaki Mohlakoana, the mother of Lesedi, takes pride in her daughter speaking out against such violations and being a beacon of hope to other girls who might be afraid to speak up. the PEC had resolved to prioritise urgent intervention in Mafube, Moqhaka, Letsemeng, Nketoana, Nala and Masilonyana local municipalities, as well as the Lejweleputswa District Municipality — areas plagued by persistent audit disclaimers, weak leadership, and corruption allegations that have crippled service de livery. This decision followed an oversight visit by Parlia ment’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Govern ance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), which exposed widespread dysfunction in municipalities, including billions in missing funds, sewage spills, illegal tenders, and critical staff shortages. Parliamentary committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize described the state of Free State munici palities as “disastrous,” a view echoed in the Audi tor-General’s latest report, which flagged rampant irregular expenditure, lack of accountability, and nu merous audit disclaimers across the province. Yet, according to sources within the ANC’s pro vincial leadership, the removal of municipal troikas is less about governance and more about factional battles ahead of the party’s looming national general council (NGC) in December. “We are facing difficult times now where two fac t ions are looking to position themselves in the prov ince. Comrade Polediso is not going to win this fight “I am afraid we are going to witness yet another scenario where the ANC’s internal battles play out in public, dragging the party’s name through the mud for a long time. The question is, will they take the party to court if the secretary general’s response is not in their favour? That, I fear, will damage the party even further.” The unfolding dispute in the Mafube region under scores the deepening cracks within the ANC’s provin cial structures, where governance failures and politi cal manoeuvring increasingly collide. As the NGC approaches, the ANC faces a critical test. The first test pertains to whether the party can restore stability and credibility in troubled municipal ities or allow internal battles to further erode public trust. “I was surprised that he followed me, but I was more shocked after he sent me a video of a girl twerking,” said Feldman. She added: “I asked my friends whether it is “My daughter makes me so proud and for her sake, I hope that justice will prevail,” stated the mother. The girls appeared in the Bloemfontein High court after opening cases against the educator and will appear in court again in October. Learners from the St Bernard’s high school spoke to Journal News about the injustices happening at the school and mentioned that their pleas or complaints simply falls on deaf ears. Ntswaki Mohlakoana, mother of sexually harassed learner. Picture: Baagedi Setlhola “Our principal threatened us that if we were to speak out against our teachers no matter how un comfortable they make us feel, our case will simply FRIDAY Saturday die,” said one learner. Another learner mentioned that there were no longer religious activities taking place since January because the principal allegedly fought with the fathers, causing disruptions in the school. “I no longer feel safe to be at the school, I don’t even want to interact with teachers, nor do I want them to interact with me because I am afraid that I might be one of the educators’ next targets,” said a grade 11 pupils.
To close women’s month, Busamed Bram Fischer Private Hospital hosted a mother and daughter breast-health awareness outreach at Hide Inn Guest House in last week Saturday in Bloemfontein. The main aim of the event was to promote early detection and proactive health practices among women. This event focused on encouraging women to have regular self-exams and mammograms em phasising that early detection is a critical factor for successful treatment outcomes. Amongst other speakers was Mrs South Africa f inalist Siyasanga Mophethe who addressed the common misconceptions surrounding cancer. Speaking to Journal News, Mophethe said there is a misconception that children don’t get breast cancer. “There is a misconception that men do not get breast cancer. It may not occur as often as it does in women, but men are still at risk. She said that being educated about these chronic illnesses helps people to know how to react when they get cancer scares,” Mophethe said. A breast and cervical cancer survivor from Breast Health Foundation, Louise Turner also shared some insight on how different the breasts look like as people age. “Younger women often have denser breast tis sue, which makes it difficult to get clear imaging in young girls. “Because of the density of their breasts, it is a bit difficult to get clear imaging in young wom en, but they are still encouraged to undergo scans. She also encouraged older women to undergo regular self-exams which will help them to no t ice when there are changes in their breasts that you can take necessary precautions,” she said. Turner also touched on cervical cancer and how now there’s a home swap kit, which will help women to swap from the comfort of their homes instead of going to the doctor.
Officials have sought intervention from Luthuli House while they remain in office
By: Abigail Visagie
Seven recently dismissed municipal troikas in the Free State are defying the African Nation al Congress (ANC) by refusing to vacate office as directed by the party provincial leadership, thus sparking a governance standoff in key municipalities in the province. Two weeks ago, the ANC provincial leadership an nounced the removal of seven troikas -comprising mayors, speakers, and chief whips - citing poor per formance and undermining service delivery. Journal News can confirm that disposed officials have not yet vacated the respective offices, despite their deadline to do so having lapsed at midday this past Wednes day. Instead, the affected parties have written to ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula appealing for inter vention - a move that is believed will trigger a series of legal and political battles. A letter allegedly penned to Mbalula by Mafube Lo cal Municipality mayor Tlhoare Motsoeneng confirms that the disposed mayor received a communiqué from provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng on Tuesday, notifying him of his immediate redeploy ment from his mayoral position. The letter further reveals that the provincial leadership instructed him to submit his resignation by Wednesday, no later than 12h00. Tlhoare has accused the provincial leadership of failing to support the municipality during well-docu mented challenges. “There has never been a situation where the pro vincial leadership had to institute disciplinary action against me, nor have I been confronted about any incapacity. “The only engagements arose from clashes be tween the Chief Whip and myself. Earlier this year, when we were summoned before the PWC, the Chief Whip claimed he had issues with me because I was allegedly orchestrating the removal of his wife from the municipality,” Tlhoare wrote in the letter. He added that he could not understand the letter from Motsoeneng, which instructed him to resign with immediate effect, therefore questioning what had informed the decision. Nala LM, Mayor Nozililo Mashiya Mafube LM Mayor, Thloare Motsoeneng because his decision will be overturned by comrade Mbalula, and there is nothing he can do,” said one source. Speaking to Journal News yesterday, Political ana lyst, Professor Sethulego Matebesi, stated that mem bers instructed to resign should not be branded “de f iant,” but allowed to exercise their democratic right by engaging the ANC’s national leadership. Matebesi, however, also warned that such appeals risk further tarnishing the ruling party’s image ahead of next year’s fiercely contested election. “I therefore submit my appeal to the SG (Mbalula) so that the matter can be dealt with accordingly. I am available to be called and to respond in person where clarity is required,” pleaded Tlhoare. The provincial secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng, announced in August during a post-Provincial Exec utive Committee (PEC) briefing that seven municipal troikas in the Free State would be reshuffled. He said St. Bernard’s Sex Predator… Learners speak out despite alleged threats from school Principal Continues from Page 1 norm everywhere. Another pupil, Kgomotso Mokobe, who was in grade 12 at the St Bernard’s received a direct message on social media from the same educator confessing his undying love and feelings for the pupil. “He once called me to his office and asked me to close the door. When I refused to, he closed it himself and confessed his feelings directly to me, mentioning that he felt this way about me since I was grade 8. I only decided to act upon his feelings now because it was the right time,” said Mokobe. Emotions of disgust flushed through Mokobe as she recalled this incident. “I was very uncomfortable and just wanted to exit the room, but he forced the door close and begged to speak to me,” said Mokobe. On 21 August 2025, Mapaseka Feldman, was also followed on social media by the very same educa tor who harassed Mokobe. inappropriate for a teacher to send learners such derogatory content, my friend said maybe he mis took the girl in the video for me, but I still believed that it did not give him the right to send such sexual content to me.” Feldman briskly escaped a horrible experience with the educator by immediately blocking his messages and his profile. Ntswaki Mohlakoana, the mother of Lesedi, takes pride in her daughter speaking out against such violations and being a beacon of hope to other girls who might be afraid to speak up. the PEC had resolved to prioritise urgent intervention in Mafube, Moqhaka, Letsemeng, Nketoana, Nala and Masilonyana local municipalities, as well as the Lejweleputswa District Municipality — areas plagued by persistent audit disclaimers, weak leadership, and corruption allegations that have crippled service de livery. This decision followed an oversight visit by Parlia ment’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Govern ance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), which exposed widespread dysfunction in municipalities, including billions in missing funds, sewage spills, illegal tenders, and critical staff shortages. Parliamentary committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize described the state of Free State munici palities as “disastrous,” a view echoed in the Audi tor-General’s latest report, which flagged rampant irregular expenditure, lack of accountability, and nu merous audit disclaimers across the province. Yet, according to sources within the ANC’s pro vincial leadership, the removal of municipal troikas is less about governance and more about factional battles ahead of the party’s looming national general council (NGC) in December. “We are facing difficult times now where two fac t ions are looking to position themselves in the prov ince. Comrade Polediso is not going to win this fight “I am afraid we are going to witness yet another scenario where the ANC’s internal battles play out in public, dragging the party’s name through the mud for a long time. The question is, will they take the party to court if the secretary general’s response is not in their favour? That, I fear, will damage the party even further.” The unfolding dispute in the Mafube region under scores the deepening cracks within the ANC’s provin cial structures, where governance failures and politi cal manoeuvring increasingly collide. As the NGC approaches, the ANC faces a critical test. The first test pertains to whether the party can restore stability and credibility in troubled municipal ities or allow internal battles to further erode public trust.
