OFM se Pulane Nel-Sekepe gesels met Kolonel Owen Witbooi, bevelvoerder van die militêre operasiesentrum van die Bloemskou-uitstalling, asook Chappy Holtzhausen, bestuurder van die Visuele Kommunikasie-eenheid.

Police ask residents’ help to find missing Free State constables

Speaking at a GBVF prayer service in Grassland, Bloemfontein, Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae said while the province and country face ongoing challenges, it remains crucial to celebrate Freedom Day — but in a way that speaks to the realities communities experience daily.

This year, the Free State Provincial Government decided to move away from traditional stadium gatherings and instead host a Freedom Day that focuses directly on urgent social issues, especially gender-based violence. "If you go to a stadium and you have people singing praises, others sit and wonder, 'what is there to celebrate?' especially when women and children are still affected by GBV."

As the province moves toward the provincial Freedom Day celebrations on 2 May, leaders reaffirm that true freedom can only be realised when communities are safe, equal, and free from violence. Speaking at a GBVF prayer service in Grassland, Bloemfontein, acting director general Dr Mafole Mokalobe said GBVF remains one of the most pressing social crises not only in the Free State but across the country.

As South Africa marks 31 years of freedom, Free State MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ntombizanele Sifuba, has called on artists, athletes, and community leaders to become ambassadors in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking during a Provincial GBVF Prayer Service in Grassland, Bloemfontein — a build-up event ahead of the Provincial Freedom Day celebrations — MEC Sifuba emphasised that her department is using every available platform to drive awareness and promote change.

As part of the build-up to the Provincial Freedom Day celebrations set for 2 May 2025, the Executive Mayor of Mangaung Metro Municipality, Gregory Nthatisi, joined provincial leaders and residents at a Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Prayer Service held in Grassland, Bloemfontein.

“Freedom means nothing if women and children still live in fear.” This is the message from MEC for Health, Viceroy Mahlatsi, speaking on the sidelines of a provincial gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) prayer service in Grassland, Bloemfontein.

Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa on continued water releases at Bloemhof and Vaal dams.

Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae will lead the Freedom Day celebrations at Grassland Community Hall in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. She will be joined by Mangaung Metro executive mayor, Gregory Nthatisi. Spokesperson for the Premier Matshediso Setai says addressing gender-based violence will be high on the agenda as well.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on missing police constables.