insert_link South Africa South Africa’s foot and mouth disease cases climb to 223 (Photo by: Reuters) Foot-and-mouth disease infections have risen sharply in South Africa’s Free State province, with authorities confirming 29 new cases that push the total to 223. The spike has intensified pressure on agricultural officials as they work to contain the outbreak in one of the country’s key livestock regions. The provincial Department of Agriculture says multiple outbreak zones have been identified, triggering strict quarantines and movement controls on affected […] today20 January, 2026
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s beef industry under pressure due to FMD outbreak Photo: The Herald South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on a commercial farm in Moqhaka Local Municipality, near Kroonstad in the Free State. The farm was placed under quarantine on 8 July after livestock exhibited clinical symptoms and positive test results were confirmed. As of July 2025, a staggering 270 outbreaks across five provinces have been recorded, with 249 still unresolved. KwaZulu-Natal […] today15 July, 2025
insert_link South Africa In S.A, DA Demands Accountability Over R1 Billion Municipal Deficit In S.A, the DA in the Free State is calling for urgent accountability, as the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality ends the 2023/2024 financial year with a one-billion-rand deficit. Over the past year, revenue stood at 1.73-billion-rand while expenses reached 2.82-billion-rand. The DA’s, Alison Oates, says this financial mismanagement directly affects residents, who continue to face water shortages, electricity instability, and deteriorating municipal services: today19 February, 2025
insert_link South Africa In S.A, AfriForum Demands Accountability for Municipal Mismanagement In S.A, AfriForum says it demands that Eskom and the national government hold municipal officials accountable for the gross mismanagement of municipal finances, rather than depriving paying residents of basic rights. AfriForum Deidré Steffens says in Free State, corrupt officials are keeping towns in a stranglehold by not settling municipal power debts, but now communities are expected to bear the consequences: today17 February, 2025
insert_link South Africa GOOD Party Applauds Improved 2024 Matric Pass Rate in South Africa The GOOD Party says the improved 2024 matric pass rate of 87.3-percent for South Africa is encouraging. This is the country's highest-ever national pass rate since the dawn of democracy. The Free State was the country's top-performing province after recording a 91.0-percent pass rate followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Seventy-three out of the 75 education districts had a pass of 80-percent and above. GOOD’s secretary-general, Brett Herron, says government […] today14 January, 2025
insert_link South Africa Record-Breaking Matric Results in South Africa South Africa's 2024 National Senior Certificate pass rate hit a record 87.3%, up from 82.9% in 2023. The Free State led with a 91% pass rate, followed by KwaZulu-Natal at 89.5% and Gauteng at 85.4%. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube highlighted that nearly half of the candidates achieved a bachelor pass. today14 January, 2025
insert_link South Africa South Africa Faces Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Threats in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 8 warning for distributive rainfall predicted over large parts of KwaZulu-Natal today and continuing into Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has noted with concern the severe rains and thunderstorms that have caused damage in Welkom in the Free State. Spokesperson, Zimasa Mbewu: today6 January, 2025
insert_link South Africa S.A’s government conducts investigations into the outbreak of foodborne illnesses in several provinces S.A's government says it is coordinating comprehensive investigations into the outbreak of foodborne illnesses in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape. Last week, Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that organophosphates, chemicals found in pesticides, were responsible for the deaths of six children in Soweto last month. They allegedly shared a packet of chips they had bought from a local spaza shop. Government's Gavin Sadler says they are […] today5 November, 2024
insert_link Environment South Africa’s crucial water supplies from Lesotho: what the six-month shutdown means for industry, farming and residents By Ifedotun Aina, University of Cape Town The main water supply to South Africa’s economic hub, greater Johannesburg in the Gauteng province, and to the country’s breadbasket in the Free State, is scheduled to be cut off for six months. Maintenance work on the 37 kilometre Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel is due to begin in October 2024. Ifedotun Victor Aina, a senior researcher at the Water and […] today5 April, 2024
