Months of uncertainty surrounding the controversial Bodulo Mothong housing project could come to an end today when the Free State High Court delivers judgment in a closely watched legal battle that could determine the future of hundreds of vulnerable families awaiting relocation to safer living cond...
Less than a week after celebrating with the Monswamy family at an engagement party, their relatives were battling to secure a venue large enough to hold their funeral service.
Devendra Naidoo, Allen Monswamy’s brother-in-law, told IOL the family planned to hold the funeral service on Sunday.
“We’re just trying to secure a venue. We’re having an issue finding a big venue. We’re all in a state of shock, and we’re all really broken. But we’re just trying to be strong and get this done,” he said.
Allen Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, as well as relatives Gonosagren Padayachee, 51, Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, and Mariama Happanah, 83, were allegedly kidnapped from their home in Newtown, Newark, on Tuesday night.
They were then taken to Melmoth, where they were killed.
Following an intensive investigation by various law enforcement units, three suspects, aged 21, 26, and 28, were arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner, it said reports indicated that a domestic helper employed by the victims arrived at their home on Wednesday morning to find the house broken into, with seven people and a vehicle missing.
Police discovered that one of the suspects had worked for the victims. The suspects then led police to Melmoth on Wednesday, where the bodies of the seven victims were found.
Naidoo said Kraidon’s fiancée was also devastated.
“We just are shattered,” he said.
Kraidon and his fiancée, Melissa, celebrated their engagement with both families at a party on Saturday.
Photos and videos posted by guests on social media showed his mother escorting him into the venue. They were seen laughing as they walked inside.
The family and others danced together and wished the couple well in their future together.
A few days later, devastated relatives took to social media to post tributes and messages of farewell to the family.
The FNB Stadium stands ready to host the 185th Soweto Derby this Sunday, 26 April 2026, serving as a thunderous opening act for Monday’s Freedom Day celebrations.
This clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs has for decades prevailed as a cultural standstill that defines the soul of South African sport.
With the 32nd anniversary of democracy on the horizon, the timing of this encounter adds a profound layer of historic significance to the rivalry. .
Pirates enter the pitch this Sunday as the undeniable favourites, buoyed by a dominant season and a recent clinical run of form. They currently lead the Betway Premiership standings with 58 points from 25 matches, having secured a convincing 3-0 victory over AmaZulu in their last outing.
Despite Bucs’ recent superiority, the club’s head coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, is refusing to let any complacency creep into his camp.
He remains focused on the mental discipline required to navigate a fixture where form often takes a back seat to raw emotion.
“We have to keep the same spirit and intensity in every game we are going to play because that is our target. It is only with that mentality that we can start dreaming about the league title,” stated Ouaddou.
The tactical battle will be immense as Ouaddou has already signalled his respect for the tactical shifts within the opposition camp. He noted that he is wary of a squad that appears revitalised and ready to challenge the status quo.
For the Glamour Boys, on the other hand, this match represents a chance at redemption and a vital step toward securing a respectable top-three finish.
Chiefs occupy third place on the log with 46 points - recently playing out to a 0-0 draw against Polokwane City against the backdrop of a dominant 4-1 win over Magesi FC as well.
The pressure from the Amakhosi faithful is staggering, although the coaching staff is attempting to shield the players from it. To this effect, they are treating the occasion with a pragmatic focus on the league table rather than the weight of history.
“In a few days, it’s the derby - we have to start thinking of that now and continue to work towards it. It is only three points,” Kaizer Chiefs co-coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, said in a recent press briefing.
Recent betting odds reflect a shocking gap between the two sides, with the Buccaneers heavily favoured to continue their winning streak.
However, the unpredictability of the Soweto Derby is what makes it the undisputed jewel in the crown of domestic football.
The FNB Stadium is expected to be a sold-out sea of vibrant colour.As the whistle blows, the tactical nuances will take a back seat to the sheer willpower of 22 men on the pitch.
The streets of South Africa are already painted in the warring colours of black, white, and gold as fans prepare for a weekend that merges athletic passion with national pride
On Friday, 22 May, the highest bidder will become the new owner of Middelpos, a quiet Karoo village in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape that is home to around 300 residents.
Real estate agency Home and Hector has invited interested buyers to bid on the 103,260-hectare town, which will be sold as a single property through an online auction. The auction window opens on 21 May.
According to the agency, Middelpos is one of the few remaining authentic Karoo towns in South Africa, retaining its original character and charm, largely untouched by modern mass tourism.
The successful bidder will acquire a fully functional town complete with infrastructure and amenities, including a hotel, post office, factory building, hall, three dwellings, a borehole, and a supermarket.
Situated between Sutherland and Calvinia along the R354 within the Northern Cape’s Hantam Municipality, Middelpos is also located near the Tankwa Karoo National Park, a factor that enhances its tourism appeal.
The agency says the property presents strong development potential across several sectors, including business, residential, manufacturing, tourism, and mixed-use projects. Its proximity to the national park has already made it a popular stop for day visitors and overnight tourists, with the town offering the necessary facilities to accommodate them.
A notable feature of the town is “Die Winkel,” also known as The Shop, described as a hub for retail and community activity, encircled by a wide gravel road.
Home and Hector further highlights Middelpos’s rich history, which dates back to 1860 when Daniel Tomlinson established a trading store after acquiring part of the farm Stinkkuil. Following his death, the Sher family purchased the town and developed it into a thriving centre serving the surrounding farming community.
Among the family’s most prominent members is Sir Anthony Sher, a Cape Town-born, internationally acclaimed Shakespearean actor and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who also authored a book inspired by Middelpos.
Behind the Middelpos Hotel stands a well-maintained memorial honouring 11 officers and men of the 11th Imperial Yeomanry who lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War on 5 and 6 February 1902.
A 7,500-hectare land rehabilitation programme set to create 700 green jobs is at the heart of a bold economic shift unveiled by Free State MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs, Elzabé Rockman.
Tabled as part of the department’s 2026/27 Budget Vote, the plan marks a decisive pivot from treating environmental management as a compliance exercise to positioning it as a catalyst for economic recovery and long-term sustainability.
At its core is a simple but often overlooked reality: without functioning ecosystems, economic growth cannot endure. In a province increasingly strained by land degradation, failing waste systems and water risks, the budget reframes environmental repair as the foundation for rebuilding the economy.
Rockman’s approach is notably pragmatic. Rather than broad commitments, it draws a direct link between restoration, infrastructure investment and job creation. The rehabilitation project aims to restore soil health, curb erosion and boost agricultural productivity in rural areas where unemployment remains high.
The programme forms part of a broader allocation of R1.089 billion for 2026/27, rising to R1.139 billion in 2027/28 and R1.170 billion in 2028/29. Of this, R159.5 million is dedicated to Environmental Affairs, now elevated to a core programme—underscoring its growing economic role.
The timing is significant. With South Africa’s economy under pressure and municipalities struggling to maintain infrastructure, environmental decline has become a direct drag on growth. In the Free State, these pressures are particularly acute.
The budget responds with an infrastructure-led recovery model. Beyond the flagship project, R54.2 million has been allocated through the Infrastructure Enhancement Allocation, while R19 million is earmarked for disaster management, Foot-and-Mouth Disease response and waste management. Conditional grants total R286.3 million, reinforcing land care and agricultural sustainability.
At municipal level, efforts are focused on stabilising basic environmental systems. Plans to audit 34 landfill sites and conduct 280 compliance inspections aim to shore up waste management—an often overlooked but critical pillar of economic stability.
The province is also tackling the long-term impact of environmental disasters. In Jagersfontein, where a tailings dam collapse left soil sodium levels up to 80% above normal, a pilot project using gypsum is underway to restore soil quality—signalling a shift toward science-based recovery.
International support is bolstering these efforts. In partnership with North West, the province has secured about R100 million over five years from the Global Environment Facility to advance land restoration and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak—now with 443 confirmed cases affecting nearly 189,000 animals—continues to strain the agricultural sector. Although R26 million has been allocated, spending has been slow due to vaccine supply constraints. To strengthen biosecurity, mobile quarantine facilities are being developed along the 485km Lesotho border.
The broader message is clear: economic recovery in the Free State will hinge as much on restoring environmental systems as on reviving traditional industries.
However, risks remain. Municipal capacity constraints and procurement delays continue to threaten implementation, and the gap between budget allocations and actual spending raises concerns.
Even so, the strategy signals a meaningful shift. In a province battling deep environmental degradation and high unemployment, Rockman’s plan offers a practical, measurable path forward—one that ties ecological repair directly to economic renewal.
Free State Human Settlements MEC Saki Mokoena has unveiled a R1.18 billion plan to fix chronic housing delays, placing a strict “Beke le Beke” week-by-week monitoring system at the centre of efforts to fast-track delivery, tighten accountability, and restore dignity in struggling communities.
Tabling the department’s 2026/27 budget, Mokoena framed the approach as a decisive shift from years of inefficiencies, stalled projects, and weak oversight. The department, he said, is now focused on rebuilding state capacity and ensuring that both officials and contractors deliver consistently and on time.
At the core of this shift is the “Beke le Beke” model—meaning “week by week”—which introduces continuous monitoring of housing projects, informal settlement upgrades, and municipal performance, replacing slow and often ineffective reporting cycles.
The department’s R1.189 billion allocation reflects a 7.1% decrease from the previous financial year, largely due to national fiscal pressures and reduced conditional grants. The Human Settlements Development Grant has been cut to R777.1 million, while the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant drops to R112.8 million. Despite these reductions, Mokoena insists delivery will be accelerated through tighter coordination and improved implementation.
A key priority is the replacement of ageing two-roomed houses with Breaking New Ground (BNG) units. R30 million has been allocated for projects in Ipopeng (Fauriesmith), Dark City (Mangaung), Bronville (Matjhabeng), and Extension 2 (Dihlabeng). An additional R2.567 million has been set aside under the Expanded Public Works Programme to support skills development in trades such as plumbing and plastering, aimed at boosting employment while improving construction quality.
Performance in the past financial year has been mixed. The department delivered 1,816 serviced sites in greenfield developments and exceeded informal settlement upgrading targets, completing 2,873 sites against a target of 1,062. However, BNG housing construction lagged, with only 41.5% of the 1,663-unit target achieved. In response, contractor panels have been reopened to expand capacity and improve delivery.
Infrastructure upgrades remain central to the strategy. In Hani Park, 261 houses have been connected to water and sewer systems, with full completion expected once pump station upgrades are finalised. In Nala Municipality, 97% of a 429-site bulk services project has been completed. In Matjhabeng, additional sites have been allocated in Nyakallong to relocate households affected by mine water risks. Progress is also being made in Community Residential Units, with 270 units completed at G-Hostel and 130 units ready for occupation in Mangaung’s Dark and Silver City, pending bulk service connections.
Large-scale catalytic projects are driving spatial transformation across the province. In Bethlehem, the Bakenpark Integrated Development is back on track with new contractors and 90 BNG houses already under construction. In Sasolburg, the Vaal River City project is advancing, with thousands of serviced sites nearing completion. In Moqhaka, most of the planned 5,300 residential sites already have water and sewer connections, with alternative bulk infrastructure solutions being explored to accelerate the remaining work.
The province continues to face a significant informal settlement challenge, with 189 settlements housing more than 84,000 households. Mokoena said the department is prioritising in-situ upgrading while identifying relocation sites where necessary. He cautioned against objections that delay development, warning that housing delivery must not be stalled by administrative or politically driven resistance. Restoring ownership and dignity remains a key focus. The department has already registered 1,319 title deeds and is working to ensure every completed house is transferred with full ownership documentation. This includes converting old permits and deed grants into formal title deeds, particularly for historically disadvantaged groups.
Mokoena also outlined institutional reforms aimed at decentralising decision-making to the district level while strengthening oversight and accountability. He acknowledged ongoing challenges, including corruption, procurement irregularities, and capacity constraints, but said corrective measures are being implemented.
Closing his address, Mokoena made it clear that the department’s direction is firmly set—faster delivery, stricter oversight, and a housing programme that not only builds homes but restores dignity and begins to reshape spatial inequality across the Free State.
