By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
In efforts to improve service delivery in the Free State, the Department of Community Safety, Roads, and Transport handed over 50 vehicles, valued at approximately R30 million, to various departments at the Government Garage in Bloemfontein yesterday.
The handover includes 15 vehicles for traffic and road safety.
They include 10 Volkswagen Polo sedans and five GWM (Great Wall Motors) double-cab pick-ups. Among these, two GWM double-cab vehicles were allocated to Traffic Management operations along the N3 corridor, while three were designated to support road safety awareness and outreach programs.
Additionally, the Department of Social Development received 35 GWM double-cab pick-ups to assist with community-based service delivery initiatives.
The Department of Health received 10 mortuary vans intended for the Department of Pathology to enhance emergency medical and forensic responses.
The Director for Forensic Pathology Services in the Free State Department of Health, Dr Joe Khoali, said the vehicles will make a significant difference in the department.
He says they will allow them to perform their duties without any challenges.
“In the Free State, we have 11 mortuaries, seven are used for dissection, and four serve as holding facilities.
“Until now, we have only had seven cars, which often break down due to high mileage, making repairs economically unfeasible,” said Khoali.
He explained that these new vehicles would be distributed across all facilities, allowing each worker to carry out responsibilities effectively.
MEC for Community Safety, Roads, and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, during the handover, emphasised the importance of not using the state vehicles for personal purposes.
“When we receive vehicles, we should not just put the papers under the carpet.
“These vehicles are tools for work, and we must clearly communicate to the people of the Free State that service delivery can be improved when state resources are allocated effectively."
He also highlighted that fleet management should be a priority for the government, especially concerning the transportation needs of various departments.
Mbalula encouraged everyone to travel safely during this festive season.
SOUTH Africa continues to lead the continent in scientific output, according to a new peer-reviewed study analysing a decade of African space science research.
Between 2014 and 2023, Africa published 2290 space science papers in recognised international journals, according to the research study.
South Africa produced 936 of these publications, just over 40% of Africa’s total output, demonstrating the country’s strong scientific capability in this strategically important domain.
The study was conducted entirely by Nigerian researchers, providing independent and objective insight into South Africa’s performance within the broader African landscape.
Across its Space Science and Earth Observation programmes, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) published about 352 research papers during the same decade.
This reflects more than one-third (37.6%) of South Africa’s total space science publications and over one in every seven (15.4%) of Africa’s space science research publications.
SANSA said this contribution is particularly notable given SANSA’s small cohort of publishing researchers, supported by technical, operations, engineering and administrative expertise across the Agency.
“The research cohort has shown significant progress towards the transformation of the research group profile.
“Within the Space Science group, the gender balance has gone from eight men and only two women in 2014 to nine men and nine women by 2023,” SANSA said.
*This article was first published by IOL news
A 34-year-old petrol attendant has been arrested in Mpumalanga for allegedly cloning fuel cards and siphoning nearly R500,000 from unsuspecting motorists.
The arrest followed a joint investigation by two banks’ card fraud investigators, a Truckstop Inn fuel station and the Hawks’ Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the suspect is alleged to have cloned fuel cards during transactions when motorists paid using petrol cards at the fuel station. Investigations by the financial institutions revealed that card users suffered an estimated loss of R469,000.
The Hawks were alerted to the suspected criminal activity and operationalised the information. Officers swooped on the fuel station on Friday, 12 December 2025, where the identified petrol attendant was searched.
A card-cloning device was allegedly found in his possession, leading to his immediate arrest.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Balfour Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 December 2025.
Mpumalanga Hawks provincial head, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the collaboration between the financial institutions, the fuel station and law enforcement.
“Our investigation is still in its infancy phase, and we believe that as it continues, more information will be uncovered. There is also a possibility that more people may be linked to the illegal activities,” Gerber said.
“This is a testament to the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing crime.”
*This article was first published by IOL news
IT has been nine months, and the police are no closer to catching the killers of brave whistleblower and community activist, Pamela Mabini, who was instrumental in the arrest of Nigerian televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso for alleged sex trafficking.
Mabini was shot and killed in her car on the morning of March 7 outside her KwaZakhele home in Gqeberha, where the 46-year-old lived with her mother, two siblings and her niece.
Her murder sparked a widespread outcry and came just one month before Omotoso, and his two co-accused were acquitted of all charges, including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Sandra Janse van Rensburg, told the Cape Times that investigations were ongoing and no arrests had been made.
Mabini was recently among those awarded the 2025 Blueprint Africa Whistleblowing Prize for her bravery.
Between 2015 and 2017, the Cultural, Linguistic and Religious Rights Commission (CRL) conducted an investigative study into the Commercialisation of Religion and Abuse of People’s Belief Systems. The CRL said that during this time, Mabini came forward about a case of alleged sexual violation and possible human trafficking in South Africa by a religious leader.
“That is how the case of Pastor Omotoso came into being,” the CRL said earlier this year.
Omotoso was arrested in 2017, accused of raping or sexually assaulting a number of his congregants, one reportedly since she was 14. He eventually faced 63 charges, including racketeering, human trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation, rape and sexual assault.
“As the Pastor Omotoso case unfolded, witnesses soon attracted unwelcome attention, placing them in harm’s way, that escalated rendering to vulnerabilities and posing a threat to their lives. This was further exacerbated by an inefficient witness protection programme, changes in the prosecution team and the presiding officer that required one of them to retell her testimony to the new team,” the CRL had said.
Omotoso and his two co-accused were acquitted in April this year. One month later, he reportedly left the country and headed back to Nigeria.
Mabini's cousin and family spokesperson, Luzuko Gaxamba, said: “The outcome of the case was not an easy thing to accept because nobody was expecting that outcome. Safe to say it was indicated because of the flaws made by the prosecution, but risking your life, taking out your time, all you have in support of the victims and in the end, you find there is no justice. We understand the NPA is appealing, but it is not a good thing because it kills the faith and the spirit of trying to expose this. The reason for being a whistleblower is you want justice to be served. If that fails, you don't feel good.”
Mabini’s family said it had been the third attempt on her life.
“It has not been easy for the family. Losing a daughter, a child, or a sister in that way will always be very traumatic for the family. Things have not been the same since her departure. Pamela was also the breadwinner of the family. She was supporting the family. She was looking after her elderly mother, her siblings and her niece," said Gaxamba.
Mabini is described as a selfless person who lived her life in the service of others, with Gaxamba adding that a whistleblower is prepared to risk their own life for the betterment of society.
“You are prepared to lay down your own life, you don't care or don't mind about how others are going to judge you, how they are going to retaliate against you. It is a sacrifice you make for the betterment of society.
“She stopped working to start an NGO because she saw a need. She would go out of her way as a development activist to support other people, especially the needy people. The NGO (Maro Foundation) was focusing on the fight for justice, supporting people, especially those subjected to gender-based violence. She went on further to support the needy children; those at school provide sanitary towels and other things. She would also go out and support the homeless by cooking and providing hot meals.”
The timing of the award, which came during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign, meant a lot to the family.
“There was no better time. We felt very happy and proud that at least there are people recognising her efforts”.
“We highly appreciate that award. When we talk of her legacy, our intention is to focus on three areas. We want to focus on advocacy when we talk about GBV. We want to look at training and development. How do we train people around these matters? Thirdly, we want to support victims.”
*This article was first published by IOL news
By JN Reporter
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has raised alarm over the party’s declining support in the Free State, Northern Cape and North West, conceding that internal weaknesses, poor governance and voter dissatisfaction have eroded the movement’s traditional strongholds ahead of critical political contests.
Delivering his midterm report on the health of the party across all nine provinces at the National General Council (NGC) in Boksburg on Monday, Mbalula stressed that urgent renewal, discipline and visible service delivery were needed to rebuild trust and avert further electoral losses.
He said the Free State faces serious organisational challenges, including weakened branches, declining community confidence and distressed municipalities.
“Although the ANC attained a provincial majority in the 2024 elections, support has steadily declined since 2019, signalling reduced hegemony and an urgent need for visible governance,” he said.
Mbalula noted that branch functionality remains weak, with only two of the 319 branches, representing 34 200 members, currently within mandate. He cited membership system challenges, gatekeeping, bulk-buying abuse and weak induction processes as factors undermining cadre development and recruitment quality.
“Municipal oversight has improved through standardised reporting tools, strengthened troikas, manifesto monitoring and early-warning interventions for service delivery failure,” he added, saying the Free State is rebuilding capacity and capability with the support of the ANC’s National Executive Committee.
Turning to the North West, Mbalula said the province remains under pressure due to organisational strain, declining voter confidence and persistent problems in local government.
“This province was one of our surprises in the last elections; they performed very, very well. That election reflected vulnerability, but it also reflected the resilience of this province,” he said, adding that both regional and provincial structures remain functional.
“Bojanala is the strongest region, with high mobilisation levels and strong political education.”
However, Mbalula said the ANC in the Northern Cape remains strong and united.
“The ANC in this province has won even wards that previously belonged to the DA. Of the province’s 232 branches, 218 — or 94% — are in good standing, reflecting high levels of organisational stability. Membership stands at 54,767,” he said.
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