This web page(s) regularly focuses on the leading Free State (South Africa) newspaper – Free State News – the first regular newspaper to be orchestrated fully by black people in the Free State province. The paper has been published on a weekly basis since 1999. Regular items like “Feature of the week” have appeared here over the years.
Free State News crew
Publisher
Moses Vinger
Confidential Secretary/Manager
Maki Mohapi aka “Madam Maki” “H.C”
Editor
Kaya M
News Editor
Omoseye Bolaji
Contributors
Nthabiseng Lisele
Dineo Mokgosi
Raselebeli Khotseng
Lay-out artist
Tumisang Takang
Contact number:
051 447 1655 051 447 1655
HIGH DENSITY CRIME COMBATTING OPERATION
By: Sebedi Seroalo
A two-day high density crime combating operation held over the weekend by various Police units including Municipal Traffic, Provincial Traffic, Municipal Law enforcement and other stakeholders such as members of Community Policing Forum, Crime Youth Desk from Central University of Technology and officials from the Free State Liquor Board under the flagship of the MEC of Police, Roads and Transport, Butana Khomphela yielded in a positive results.
As it is a common knowledge that liquor is one of the contributing factors to the cause of serious crimes, more emphasis was placed on addressing liquor related crimes by visiting identified problematic liquor outlets to ensure compliance in terms liquor act. To that effect a number of taverns and clubs were raided in Willows and in the CBD where more than ten(10) club owners were charged for operating beyond stipulated legal hours. The operating teams also crackdown on prostitution by targeting specific streets in the CBD where prostitution incidents are common.
Meanwhile as the operation wound down, the operating members initiated a stop and search point at the bridge near Batho location where vehicles were stopped and searched. In total over 110 vehicles were searched, 33 people arrested for drinking in public and 26 motorists were issued with fines for road traffic related offences.
The operating teams also drove in a convoy to an entertainment hub affectionately known as Sechaba in Mangaung where they blocked off the street, dispersing people drinking in public, looking for the underage persons, searching the patrons for drugs and dangerous weapons.
The MEC Khomphela said the operation meant to work harder to eliminate the scourge of crime in order to restore community`s faith in law enforcement. He went futher saying the police cannot succeed in on their own, they need communities to work with them by reporting the perpetrators of crime and to help them as they strive to build a safe crime free environment.
CHARMAINE IS PASSIONATELY COMMANDING POETRY!
By LETSHEGO MOENG
Charmaine Kolwane, poet, essayist and critic has published her second book. She was born in Thaba Nchu and attended Gorong primary school where her passion for poetry blossomed.
She is one of the founder members of Performance poetry in Pacofs. Her new book, Poetry Commando is a book she wrote comprising a collection of poems which are about common issues that affect women, ability to meet strangers and interact with them regardless of colour.
On advising future writers she suggested caution and proceeding carefully. “Writing is not something you rush. It is like a project; some pundits have referred to it as building steadfastly and creatively.”
“It’s like a plant you have to water,” she continued. “You have to attend poetry session and workshops in order to get inspiration and improve your writing.” In her case as a librarian she is intermittently confronted with challenges like time management, self-doubt and laziness. Charmaine works as a librarian at the Mangaung local library.
However she loves to write because she can tell a story and there are people who can relate to them. “Poetry does not always have to be about the deep stuff,” she said, laughing as she revealed that in her new work she wrote a poem about a rat!
This is not her first book, as earlier on in 2005 she published a study entitled Channelling one’s thoughts onto paper. “I was surprised with the local, national and even international success of the book as I was quite young then. The critics were kind to me,” she reminisces. Her favourite writer is Buchi Emecheta.
“Emecheta is one of the most powerful female Black writers in the world, a pride for Africa.” Charmaine says. “She is a very prolific writer and a role model for us all. She is really inspiring as she is a single mother who is also a world class writer”.
You can ORDER yourself a copy of Charmaine’s new book which costs R100.00 by calling 0715573231.
Ons het nou genoeg gehad!
Ons land word tans geteister deur hoë-profiel vrouemishandeling, brutale verkragtings -selfs moord. Hierdie vernederende gedrag het ons land se beeld onherstelbare skade berokken.
Ons word hier konfronteer met immense ironie: Suid Afrika is maklik een van die toonaangewende lande in Afrika waar vroue geregtig is op 'n wye spektrum regte.
Tog gaan die land gebuk onder die hoogste verkragting- en vrouemishandeling statistiek ter wereld. Wanneer die feite in oenskou geneem word, is dit duidelik dat daar iewers iets skort.
Dat daar tans n oorweldigende vlaag van onthutsing en woede deur die land swiep, is 'n goeie teken- en inderdaad- genoeg is genoeg. Hierdie gruwelike insidente van verkragting, mishandeling en skokkende aanslae op die skoner geslag moet nou stop.
Free State News sê:
Ons moet nou alles in ons vermoe doen om te verseker dat vroue veilig voel in ons land. Ons moet keer dat ons nie n punt bereik waar vroue n wantroue in en ‘n vrees vir mans het nie. Ons is dit aan die komende generasie verskuldig.
