The Toyota Cheetahs have booked their place in the semi-finals of the SA Cup and secured qualification for the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division – but the focus has now shifted to overcoming the defending champions the Suzuki Griquas thrashing the Border Bulldogs 106–7 to seal their advancement Eastern Province’s 20–14 victory over the Griffons further helped the Cheetahs’ cause and may now see the Welkom-based side miss out on qualification While it’s still mathematically possible for the Cheetahs to secure a home semi-final it would take something close to a miracle this coming weekend when they travel to Kimberley to take on the Griquas the Cheetahs would need to beat the Griquas by a margin of 71 points or more while also ensuring the hosts don’t earn a single log point from the match the Cheetahs are most likely to return to Kimberley next week for a potential semi-final showdown against their old rivals Cheetahs head coach Frans Steyn told OFM Sport that the team isn’t concerned about securing a home semi-final or final – the bigger picture is building towards the Currie Cup later this year “Let’s start here … scoring 100 points in a match is not easy – let’s just say that,” Steyn said “So I’m happy with the way the guys played If they come to me on Monday and say they just enjoyed it and played their hearts out then that’s fine – I don’t have a problem with that “But there are still areas we need to improve on if we want to beat the Griquas in Kimberley “I’m not worried about a home semi-final or final – that’s not the priority and continue building towards our bigger goals then we’ve got to give it our best against the Griquas “There’s a tough week of preparation ahead because we know the threat they pose the Griquas will host the Cheetahs at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley in the eagerly anticipated derby OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg Verity-Amm and Cheetahs gear up for Griquas test Willemse set for 100th Stormers cap as Harris bids farewell Cheetahs receive Van der Merwe boost for Griquas showdown Blitzboks crowned sevens world champions in LA Grey, Diamantveld claim win on final day of the Wildeklawer Oekraïne vra Suid-Afrika om ontvoerde kinders te help terugbring Wyle pous Franciskus het begrafnisrituele vooraf vereenvoudig Mianmar-aardbewing: Hulp stroom in ná meer as 1 700 sterftes Suid-Afrikaners wen gesogte blommeskou-trofee in China NewsSA CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Toyota Cheetahs vs Border Bulldogs The race for those coveted four semi-final spots of the SA Cup – and with that qualification to the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division – is going down to the wire for the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers NovaVit Griffons and Valke after the penultimate round was completed over the weekend log leaders Airlink Pumas maintained their status as the only unbeaten side in the competition when they edged the Kavaliers 34-32 in an exciting match on Saturday in Wellington The two bonus points Boland managed to collect despite their narrow home loss keep them in fourth place on the log after Eastern Province did the Kavaliers a huge favour by beating the Northern Free Staters by 20-14 in Gqeberha on Saturday The Valke also ensured they stayed in the hunt for qualification following their crucial 45-31 win over the Leopards in Potchefstroom After suffering their first loss in the competition last week against the Pumas in Nelspruit holders Suzuki Griquas bounced back to winning ways courtesy of a 52-5 victory over the Phangela SWD Eagles in George while the Toyota Cheetahs overwhelmed Border 106-7 in Bloemfontein Going into next weekend’s final round of league fixtures the Pumas are in pole position on 40 points These three sides have booked their places in the semi-finals where they will be joined by one of Boland (27 points) the Griffons (26) or the Valke (25) points the Leopards (five) and Border (two) complete the log standings Suzuki Griquas host the Toyota Cheetahs from 14h00 in Kimberley and that encounter is followed by the important clash in Welkom between the Griffons and Pumas Also starting at 15h00 are the fixtures between Leopards and SWD in Potchefstroom and the Valke against Border in Kempton Park Eastern Province scored their fourth win of the campaign when they defeated Griffons 20-14 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha but unfortunately for the men from the Eastern Cape other results mean they can’t make it into the top four anymore EP were not at their best in the opening half as they trailed by 14-3 following two converted tries they came out much better organised in the second stanza to score two converted tries and a penalty goal while the home team’s defence was also on song as they managed to keep the Griffons scoreless Wings Rodney Damons and Davian Swanepoel went over the line for the EP while Christian Humphries succeeded with the important conversions to steer the Eastern Cape side to victory The Valke emerged victorious against the Leopards with a hard-fought 45-31 win in Potchefstroom on Saturday afternoon They had to work hard for the win though as the hosts were only two points behind at halftime with the score at 19-17 The East Randers scored seven tries to four in the end for a well-deserved win which keep their outside chance alive to qualify for the playoffs and a place in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Midfielder Musa Tshabalala scored a brace of tries while reliable place kicker Sergio Stalmeester succeeded with five of the seven conversions The Leopards’ Shaun Baxter slotted all four his conversion attempts and he was also on target with a penalty goal The Toyota Cheetahs ran in 16 tries while conceding only one in their 106-7 romp over the Border Bulldogs in Bloemfontein on Saturday The Free Staters were already out of sight by the halfway stage with a 47-0 advantage Four players – Marko Janse van Rensburg James Verity-Amm and Jandre Nel – left the field with braces behind their names Tiaan Swanepoel and Verity-Amm succeeded with six conversions each as the Cheetahs solidified third spot on the league table The Airlink Pumas clinched a thrilling 34-32 win away win over the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in Wellington on Saturday afternoon to stay in first place on the SA Cup log The two teams were involved in a massive arm wrestle for the entire match and were locked at 15-15 at the sound of the halftime whistle they scored five tries compared to four of the Kavaliers Hawies Fourie’s team did manage to collect two vital bonus-points in the process HP Schoor scored twice for the Kavaliers while pivot James Tedder kept them in the hunt with a try three conversions and two penalty goals for a personal tally of 15 points were the architects of the Pumas’ close-fought win defending champions Suzuki Griquas overpowered the Phangela SWD Eagles 52-5 in in George scoring eight tries in the process whilst the Eagles could only reply with a solo first half try The men from Kimberley lost to the Pumas in Nelspruit last week for the time since the start of the competition early last year but Friday in George they were in a rampant mood as they returned to winning ways interestingly each one scored by a different player with the forwards equalling the backs’ tally of four tries Flyhalf Tylor Sefoor succeeded with six conversion kicks as the Kimberley outfit further solidified their place amongst the top two-placed teams Cheetahs – Tries: Marko Janse van Rensburg (2) Ghudian van Reenen. Conversions: Shaun-Christian Baxter (4) Dynamic Toyota Cheetahs flanker Gideon van der Merwe is set to make his long-awaited return to the field on Saturday in the eagerly anticipated SA Cup derby against the Suzuki Griquas in Kimberley The 30-year-old has been sidelined for nearly six months after fracturing his ankle during the Cheetahs’ 26-10 loss to Cardiff Blues on 14 December in Wales has been back in full training for a while and has now received the green light to return to action.  Saturday’s clash between the Griquas and Cheetahs promises to be a humdinger as is usually the case when these two sides face off and Van der Merwe’s turnover skills will be a welcome boost for the Bloemfontein side who have sorely missed his presence throughout their SA Cup campaign Van der Merwe has one of the highest work rates in defence in the team Van der Merwe told OFM Sport that he is ready and the team deserves nothing less than his very best “It’s been a while – six months is a long time to be out,” said Van der Merwe but it felt amazing to get the nod from Frans (Steyn) and the coaching team today.  “I’m really looking forward to getting back on the park this weekend It’s a fantastic feeling – you don’t really need extra motivation but I definitely have a bit more this time around.  Now it’s just about going out there and delivering Hopefully I can add as much value as possible and give it everything I’ve got.  The boys have been playing well and we’re in good form Hopefully we can go out there and deliver on Saturday.” Van der Merwe’s return is another timely boost for the Cheetahs as he is the last of the squad’s long-term injury absentees to be cleared for action.  outside back James Verity-Amm made his comeback after more than a year on the sidelines scoring a hat-trick of tries and slotting six conversions against the Border Bulldogs Powerful centre Carel-Jan Coetzee also made his return last week from a minor knee injury and dotted down in the Cheetahs’ emphatic 106–7 victory in Bloemfontein.  Van der Merwe previously turned out for the Griquas before joining the Cheetahs in 2021 Verity-Amm also represented the Peacock Blues during the 2020/21 season Saturday’s derby between the Griquas and Cheetahs kicks off at 15:00 at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh Cheetahs shift focus to Griquas after securing SA Cup semi-final spot Home | South Africa A collective memorial service for the three Free State police constables whose bodies were recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion and Cebekhulu Linda – had been reported missing for several days before their bodies were discovered All three will receive official police funerals Constables Senoge and Linda will be laid to rest in Bloemfontein on Thursday and Friday next week Buys will be buried in Thaba Nchu on Saturday #sapsFS Official funerals afforded to fallen constables The official funerals will take place on separate dates between 08 and 10 May 2025 Specific details for each funeral are as follows: — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 2, 2025 Police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele confirms the details of the memorial service “A memorial service will be held at Bobbies Park The South African Police Service and the Free State provincial government extend their deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen members but their dedication and contribution will never be forgotten.”  VIDEO | Three constables whose bodies were retrieved from Hennops River to be buried next week The families of the constables will travel to Gauteng province on Sunday to fetch their bodies The trio went missing on 23 April after they left Bloemfontein on their way to Limpopo The search for the missing constables tragically ended when their bodies and later the parts of the vehicle they were travelling in were recovered from the river earlier this week An Eastern Free State man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife According to Free State police spokesperson Mmako Mophiring the man brutally beat his wife with a rusted steel pipe in front of bystanders The other farm dwellers saw him continuously beating the woman several times until she became unconscious She was later declared dead,” Mophiring said The perpetrator was then arrested and appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court He remained in custody while awaiting trial he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife Bloemfontein Courant is owned by Mahareng Publishing a subsidiary of Caxton Community Papers and joint venture between Caxton CTP and Central Media Group © 2024 Bloemfontein Courant. Developed by Digital Platforms The Toyota Cheetahs have secured their place in the Currie Cup Premier Division in emphatic fashion thrashing the Border Bulldogs in Bloemfontein on Saturday The Cheetahs ran riot at Toyota Stadium in their must-win SA Cup Round 8 clash against the team from East London racking up a dominant 106–7 victory to book their spot in the semi-finals This after leading the game 47-0 at halftime the Pumas edged a determined Boland Cavaliers side 34–32 to maintain their unbeaten run who are now five points clear of Hawies Fourie’s charges with one round to go The big win also handed the Free Staters a significantly better points difference James Verity-Amm scored a hat-trick of tries and landed six conversions the most important result of the weekend came in Gqeberha where Eastern Province stunned the Griffons with a 20–14 win The Griffons now face a must-win clash against the Pumas in Welkom next week while hoping EP can repeat their heroics to give the Northern Free State side a shot at qualification While the Cheetahs racked up what could be described as a cricket score against the Bulldogs they admitted they weren’t entirely satisfied with their performance describing the match as frustrating and riddled with unforced errors Outside back James Verity-Amm scored a hat-trick of tries in his first game back in over a year and impressed with his kicking from the tee with six conversions Flyhalf George Lourens continued his excellent form while debutant Tiaan Swanepoel slotted in seamlessly even dotting down for a try in his first outing for the ‘Blikore’ The biggest takeaway for the side is their qualification for the Currie Cup Captain Victor Sekekete told OFM Sport that it’s a massive relief although the team always believed in themselves I think we never doubted it as players – it was a dramatic start to the season and everyone had to stay sharp,” Sekekete said Tiaan Swanepoel scored 17 points on debut for the Cheetahs “Getting everyone on the same page about our goals and how we’d reach them helped settle things Credit to the players – they took responsibility to get us here “This is where we need to push even harder because the games only get tougher from here – whether it’s the Currie Cup questions remain around whether 41-year-old loosehead prop Schalk Ferreira has played his final game He has hinted that retirement may be on the horizon Ferreira scored the Cheetahs’ first try of the match and attempted a conversion on the stroke of half-time – a kick that missed by mere inches It’s often tradition for a forward to take a conversion in their final game neither confirming nor denying that he’s hanging up his boots feeling very blessed,” the veteran front-rower told OFM Sport where they’ll face the defending champions next week in the final round before the semi-finals OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg is eager to make his mark and seize the opportunity that lies ahead in Bloemfontein Okonkwo was in attendance at the Cheetahs’ captain’s run on Friday ahead of their crucial SA Cup clash against the Border Bulldogs he got a first-hand look at what is largely the team’s first-choice line-up as they completed their final preparations The powerful front-rower previously spent time with the Lions he represented Wits for one season before going on to play two seasons for the UCT Ikey Tigers He started at tighthead prop in the 2024 Varsity Cup final against the UFS Shimlas in Bloemfontein Okonkwo said this is a massive opportunity for him – one he intends to grab with both hands something he’s become accustomed to throughout his rugby journey I came from a school (St David’s) that’s not really known for its rugby I’ve grabbed with both hands and left the rest to God,” said Okonkwo and I’ve always taken pride in the set piece and being dominant up front I know the standard is high – I’ve watched the games – and I’m excited about the chance to show what I can offer “Opportunities like these don’t come around often Okonkwo also expressed his excitement about being part of a new generation of players breaking through “It’s exciting to see a new wave coming in – guys I’ve played with and against and that chemistry really adds something extra experienced tighthead Robert Hunt is set to leave the Cheetahs after the SA Cup as he heads to Newport in Wales to join the Dragons Hunt has been a standout performer since joining the Cheetahs just over a year ago his departure creates opportunities for emerging players like Okonkwo to step up the Cheetahs have further bolstered their squad with the signings of winger Ntokozo Makhaza from UCT and flanker Sasko Ndlovu – a former Junior Springboks captain – from UJ The University of the Free State (UFS) released a statement addressing a social media post which indicated that the institution employs a high number of foreign nationals According to the Senior Director of Communication and Marketing the foreign nationals working at the institution represents less than 3% of the university’s employees 140 foreign academic staff members are employed representing less than 3% of the university’s total academic workforce These staff members come from a wide range of countries around the world – not only from African countries such as Zimbabwe as suggested in the post,” Loader mentioned Loader further points out that the foreign nationals appointed by the university add significant value and align with the institution’s vision “Their presence furthermore strengthens the UFS’ commitment to its Vision 130 – to be a research-led contributing to development and social justice through globally competitive graduates and impactful knowledge,” she said She concluded by stating that the percentage of foreign nationals working as academic staff at UFS are below the national average for South African universities Defence Minister Angie Motshekga led a ministerial outreach programme in Bloemfontein to deepen public understanding of the role and significance of the defence sector in South Africa anchored by a Defence Career Expo at Tempe Military Base was designed to deepen public understanding of the defence sector’s role and to showcase the diverse career opportunities available within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) The outreach day on Friday 11 April began at Tjhebelopele Primary School in Mangaung where Motshekga addressed learners on the values of patriotism She emphasised the importance of integrity highlighting how these values underpin both military service and good citizenship Accompanied by the Minister of Higher Education and Training Motshekga’s visit underscored a whole-of-government approach to youth development and national service the delegation proceeded to Tempe Military Base where Motshekga engaged directly with SANDF members This session reflected the Ministry’s “Soldier First” philosophy and professional development of military personnel The Minister also held an engagement session with soldiers at 44 Parachute Regiment fostering open communication and reinforcing the value of service Under the theme “The Department of Defence Inspires a Sense of Service and Patriotism Amongst the Country’s Youth,” the career expo at Tempe Military Base brought together representatives from various branches of the armed forces and external organisations explored a wide range of career paths—from combat roles to engineering Motshekga encouraged learners to consider the SANDF as a platform for personal and professional growth: “This is a chance for you to explore the wide range of career opportunities in the defence force ranging from combat positions to engineering and interactive sessions with Defence Human Resources representatives provided students with firsthand insight into the operational capabilities and career prospects within the SANDF “This Defence Career Expo is both timely and important in a world characterised by constant technological advancements shifting global dynamics and increasing demand for national security the role of post-school education in building a skilled innovative and future-ready defence force is forever critical,” Nkabane said we go far—together—by building bridges between our post school sector and the defence forces ensuring that young South Africans are equipped not only with skills Let this Defence Career Expo be the beginning of a renewed and deepened collaboration—one that helps secure our nation’s sovereignty and the empowerment of our youth,” Nkabane added The outreach programme is part of the Minister’s broader mandate to forge consensus on defence matters with the South African public and to tap into the nation’s young talent pool By engaging directly with learners and soldiers Motshekga aims to inspire a new generation to serve their country Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio a once-abandoned building — shuttered during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic — now pulses with creativity a community centre founded and run entirely by young people At its helm is Tshiamo Malatji (27), whose vision is simple yet radical: to return agency and opportunity to the young people of Bloemfontein, empowering them to chart their own futures.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey 37.6% of people in the province are jobless “There are not many opportunities for young people here Many opportunities in Bloemfontein are government opportunities and often getting through the door is very difficult Many young people in Bloem also work online for companies that do not necessarily operate in the city or have offices here and some people do not have internet access So a lot of what we do is about building things that empower young people to start their own projects and businesses,” said Malatji “Many development or community centres are places where you can receive some valuable resources and assistance We wanted to create a youth centre that would do things differently — a place where people can create resources and capital for themselves One of the centre’s flagship initiatives is its monthly cultural market where more than 20 young entrepreneurs sell food meaning the entrepreneurs keep 100% of their profits which they can reinvest into their businesses “We created a dedicated cultural market where you know you’ll find high-quality cultural goods made by young people in our community so people can actually spend locally — and that assists those young people in creating opportunities for their own enterprises,” said Malatji which focuses on showcasing projects made by local filmmakers A post shared by CineBa! (@cinebafilmclub) advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The centre’s support does not stop at the market. It helps young people navigate the often confusing process of business compliance, connects them to local incubators, and assists with licence fees and other costs that can be barriers to formalisation. For many, this is the first step towards sustainable self-employment.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Malatji said the centre helped participants gain access to training and grants offered by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and local incubators Young people attend a workshop at 56 Tambo is one of those who have benefited from 56 Tambo’s enterprise support The centre inspired Ngozwane to start a crocheting business She told Daily Maverick that she finally felt she had a space where she could showcase her work “The centre was not really what I was used to It was my first time being in a space where you are encouraged to build yourself without having to pay a fee or where the centre is not expecting to benefit anything from your work,” said Ngozwane “Whenever there is any workshop or training happening within Bloemfontein, 56 Tambo lets us know about it and encourages us to go. Even when only one person from the centre is invited, they say: ‘Let’s all go’, because an opportunity for one is an opportunity for all,” she said.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Malatji said that 56 Tambo’s most impactful initiative was providing internet access to young people who would otherwise go without “Most of the young people who come to our centre are not in education Access to the internet allows them to brush up on skills access books in our digital library and save money they would have spent on data for other essentials,” he said the centre is building a local offline community network the network allows anyone in the area to connect share files and listen to podcasts or access a digital library Malatji said the centre was looking into launching servers across the city so more young people can access the offline network Another cornerstone is the Library Project. Recognising that public libraries often lack literature relevant to young people, especially conscious African literature and academic resources, the centre has curated its own collection.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Our library is focused on books that activate young people in meaningful ways What sets the centre apart is its commitment to youth leadership Management and decision-making are handled by young people blurring the lines between beneficiary and organiser “Recipients become organisers themselves,” said Malatji “As they start to solve their own problems they realise they can play a role in solving the problems of others.” the centre has brought new vibrancy to central Bloemfontein attracting young people to artistic events and entrepreneurial opportunities I’ll be in Bloem in July and will check it out ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " International rugby will return to Bloemfontein when Georgia’s national team take on the Toyota Cheetahs on 12 July a week before their Test against the Springboks in Nelspruit who will tour to South Africa for the second time will cross swords with the Free Staters at the Toyota Stadium said: “We received a request from Georgia for an extra match on their tour and what better opponent than the Toyota Cheetahs who will be in the middle of their season at that stage “We believe it’ll be a great occasion for Cheetah fans and rugby supporters in Central South Africa and it will give our visitors a proper hit-out before they take on the Springboks.” said: “We are thrilled to host Georgia at Toyota Stadium for what promises to be an exciting encounter This is a fantastic opportunity for our supporters to witness top-class rugby in Bloemfontein “Playing against Georgia will be a great test for the Toyota Cheetahs and we are eager to see how we measure against an international side.” a former England hooker who is now the head coach of Georgia “Playing the Cheetahs will be a great opportunity for us to prepare for the Test match against the Boks,” said Cockerill who also coached England before taking up the position with the Lelos “Bloemfontein is a great place to play rugby and the Toyota Stadium is an amazing venue We are excited about testing ourselves against a great rugby nation.” The Boks’ clash against Georgia on 19 July at the Mbombela Stadium will be the third and last in the Castle Lager Incoming Series which kicks off with two Test against Italy on 5 July in Pretoria and a week later in Gqeberha ───   KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 08:00 Sat International jazz and gospel musician/songwriter Jonathan Butler has shared a traumatic experience while visiting Bloemfontein to inspire and uplift aspiring young musicians in South Africa Mangaung councillors and representatives of the Free State Department of Arts and Culture at the Heide Primary School in Heidedal on Friday (11/4).  When speaking about his life experience – to motivate the young generation wishing to join the arts industry – he shared a traumatic experience while performing at the Bloemfontein Showgrounds decades ago Bochabela Strings performing for Jonathan Buttler and attendees at Heide Primary The Cape Town-born artist said his mother decided to put him on stage to sing at the age of five The situation was so dire that he used newspaper instead of toilet paper he had been supporting his mother with the money people threw on stage We played at the showgrounds when I was seven years old That is where we stayed and that is where my life changed,” he said I couldn’t go there and it was a very difficult experience “I was a little boy aged seven and the gentleman who owned the show molested me artists and learners were among those who welcomed Jonathan Butler at Heide Primary He said God turned around what was evil for good He encouraged people who are going through similar circumstances not to die in silence He called on Mangaung and government officials to create a safe space for the young generation to talk with each other as he did not have such a safe space at the time that he needed it the most but others do not know those people’s backgrounds and the suffering they endured before they became successful • Butler’s spokesperson has told OFM News he does not intend to take legal steps following the alleged sexual abuse OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi North West scholar transport operators will finally receive payments Vrystaatse ouerpaar in hof ná kinders doodbrand Besoekers sprakeloos oor skouspelagtige Augrabies UV ontken aantygings oor buitelandse werknemers Ondersoek duur voort ná skietery op Lichtenburg the Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition has been South Africa’s premier platform for emerging artists the competition continues to discover and elevate new talent With the help of the Association of Arts Pretoria the competition has launched the careers of several artists including Candice Breitz (Merit Award Winner 1991) Haroon Gunn-Salie (Merit Award Winner in 2013) “We are delighted to once again open the call for entries to South Africa’s longest-running and respected art competition,” said Pfunzo Sidogi making it one of the most accessible high-profile competitions in the country and capable of sparking thought and emotion.” The competition is open to South African artists aged 18 and older who have not yet held a solo exhibition (excluding academic exhibitions) Artists working in any visual medium – including painting Artists represented by established galleries or agents or employed as full-time visual art or design lecturers The winner will receive R100 000 and a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2026 while the runner-up will be awarded R25 000 and five merit winners will each receive R10 000 “Sasol New Signatures is more than just an art competition it’s a space where potential is recognised and new chapters in the story of South African art are written” said Nozipho Mbatha Senior Manager of the Sasol Group Brand and Sponsorships The competition will again provide educational resources for entrants Chairperson Pfunzo Sidogi and Sasol Art Curator Cate Terblanche will lead the campaign helping artists navigate the competition’s technical and conceptual requirements “Our online content provides invaluable guidance and insight into what makes a successful submission and we encourage all artists to make use of these tools,” explained Terblanche “The Sasol New Signatures website is a treasure trove of knowledge and includes past catalogues finalist interviews and detailed entry information is readily available.” Sidogi added: “While being selected as the overall winner is the ultimate accolade even being named a finalist can be a turning point in an artist’s career Artists must submit entries at one of the collection points across South Africa on 10 and 11 June 2025 (10:00–16:00) The Oliewenhuis Art Museum serves as a collection point in Bloemfontein For more information, visit www.sasolsignatures.co.za Entry Form: https://www.sasolsignatures.co.za/…/SNS25-Entry-Form… Some Bloemfontein residents have expressed sadness for the three police officers who went missing on Wednesday The residents say they hope for the officers’ safe return Three police constables went missing while travelling from Bloemfontein to their deployment area in Limpopo. Two of them were part of operation Vala Umgodi which is investigating illegal mining activities in Limpopo while the other one was stationed at the Park Road police station in Bloemfontein Safety issues have been raised by residents of Bloemfontein they say if police officers can go missing without a trace called on those responsible for this disappearance to spare the lives of the three constables I feel unsafe because if this can happen to police they must take action and find the missing officers.” “We feel very unsafe because we depend on the police to be safe I pray to God for their safe return.” “We have to put ourselves in the shoes of the parents South African police are not safe and we are also not safe.” #sapsHQ The National Commissioner of SAPS General Fannie Masemola together with the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya met with the team involved in investigating the disappearance of three police officers An update was… pic.twitter.com/HirlIo1KF0 — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) April 27, 2025 General Fannie Masemola has allayed the residents’ fears saying there have been incidents of people disappearing who have been found He has called on those with information to contact the police “We believe that with the assistance of communities we can solve this case.We are following all the leads including the vehicle that is doing the rounds on social media that was parked next to them at the filling station We have processed that information and we are not looking narrowly around that We pledge our support to the families that we will always be with them.” As South Africans reflect on workers’ progress and rights on Workers’ Day the Bloemfontein Courant team took to the streets to hear directly from workers about the challenges they face in today’s workplace several key barriers were highlighted – particularly in Bloemfontein These include limited access to reliable transport difficulty adapting to a rapidly evolving job market the need to ensure that training remains relevant to industry needs and ongoing struggles with securing job placements for graduates She currently freelances for a radio station and says some of the challenges she experiences are: “Talent Retention and Development: Attracting and keeping creative tech-savvy talent can be difficult with limited budgets and outdated perceptions of radio careers.” She specialises in building strong relationships with clients and identifying top talent “One of the key challenges she faces in today’s work environment is the increasing difficulty in finding quality candidates who not only meet the technical requirements of a role but also align with a company’s culture and long-term goals.” Elias has been a truck driver all his life,he pointed out challenges that they are faced with daily “I’m driving a code 10 truck distributing food and other essentials all over the country and crossing the borders of Lesotho but we are not being paid for crossing the border The companies don’t provide us with accommodation when travelling we sleep in the trucks whether it’s summer or winter.” He highlighted some of the challenges he faces as a supervisor “The lack of invest in new technology equipment to help us stay on track with our demands well equipped maintenance staff and maintenance stuff need to be send to training courses regularly to stay up to date with new technological systems.” I run four businesses based in Bloemfontein – The Bee Shop (beekeeping equipment One of the biggest challenges is navigating rising operational costs while trying to stay competitive Load-shedding and service delivery issues also affect productivity and reliability especially in sectors like catering and oxygen supply where timing and consistency are critical Support for small businesses – through reduced red tape and local procurement opportunities – would go a long way in improving sustainability Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae says it’s a sad day for the province following confirmation that three of the five bodies found at the Hennops River in Centurion are those of the missing police officers The officers who are originally from the Free State went missing last week while travelling from Bloemfontein to Limpopo for their deployment The vehicle they were travelling in was last spotted on camera at the Brakfontein interchange on the N1 driving north which led the police to search the Hennops River Letsoha-Mathae says they are hopeful that the police will find the cause of their deaths “But what we just heard really it is sad It is sad for the province; it is sad for the Free State government their portfolios … those are portfolios of bright people,” says Letsoha-Mathae we have really lost these young people with a brighter future because they chose this profession knowing quite well it is risky But they were committed and said we are going to serve the people of Free State,” she adds National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed that three of the five bodies found at the Hennops River in Centurion are those of the missing police officers Masemola says the search for the vehicle the officers were travelling in is still ongoing we searched everywhere for our three missing police officers Constable Boipelo Senoge and Constable Cebekhulu Linda We had hoped to find our three police officers safe and unharmed It is with the deep sorrow that I confirm that our three members have been found together with two other bodies – one being of an administration clerk or a gardener from Littleton Police Station,” adds Masemola A mother and her two children lost their lives in a fire at Phase 7 in Bloemfontein believed to have been caused by a candle used during load shedding were asleep when the fire broke out on Friday night had locked the shack and gone to the shops when the tragedy occurred Free State Premier Macqueen Letsoha-Mathae visited the grieving family announcing that the government will cover funeral costs and provide counseling support And this is one of those traumatic incidents It’s not easy and understand the pain that this family is going through honestly hence we are here as a government to just say condolescence who are going to help them to make sure that they have documents that they can use because everything’s been down here.” Shack Fire | A mother and her two children perished: FOUR PAWS South Africa and LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary highlight the importance of protecting leopards and ensuring their well-being in both the wild and captivity for International Leopard Day leopards (Panthera pardus) face increasing threats is a global initiative dedicated to celebrating the majestic Leopard and creating awareness about the urgent need for their welfare leopards are not only iconic apex predators but also pivotal to maintaining the ecological balance within diverse habitats,” said Daniels She added that leopards have experienced a dramatic reduction in their historical range now occupying only about 25% of their former territories “This decline is primarily due to habitat destruction The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies leopards as vulnerable Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has been at the forefront of ending the captive breeding of all big cats in South Africa through its Break the Vicious Cycle campaign and sanctuaries like LIONSROCK which provides a haven for big cats rescued from inadequate conditions,” Daniels explained Fiona Miles Director at FOUR PAWS emphasises the importance of championing this cause “South Africa can and must set a precedent for global wildlife protection efforts by ensuring that all big cats are safeguarded for future generations By developing world class standards and policiesaSouth Africacan set the example and lead global advocacy for stricter protections for big cats shifting the mindset from financial value to the intrinsic value these sentient animals have.” and Tulani have found a safe and species-appropriate home “Leopards are incredibly adaptable and intelligent animals but their survival is constantly challenged by human activities We provide them with the space and care they need to live dignified lives,” said Sanctuary Manager Hildegard Pirker “Our commitment extends beyond providing a safe home; it’s about raising awareness and educating the public on the critical role leopards play in our ecosystems.” To learn more about FOUR PAWS’ efforts and how to support LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, visit www.four-paws.org.za Police in Bloemfontein have launched a manhunt for two suspects after a male cyclist was shot dead and another was forced to flee two attackers on the N1 near the Southpark dumping site Police say they found the body of a 46-year-old man He had two gunshot wounds while the other cyclist was in shock Mahlomola Kareli says the two were riding their bicycles to work when they were approached by two men who were walking alongside the road As one of the cyclists attempted to pass the first suspect he was struck on the back of the head with a brick and fell from his bicycle The second suspect then opened fire on the cyclist The other rider survived by jumping off his bike and fleeing the scene Kareli says the suspects stole both bicycles Occupants of a passing security vehicle assisted the surviving cyclist The 2025 National Secondary Schools & LSEN Championship wrapped up on Saturday following three thrilling days of competition at the Mangaung Athletics Stadium in Bloemfontein finishing with a total of 120 medals – 40 gold The Western Cape LSEN team delivered an exceptional performance Western Cape's mainstream schools secured third place overall Jurgen Nortjé (middle) of Free State won the boys U17 800m gold in 1:52.43 finished fifth overall with 62 medals: 21 gold North West followed in sixth place with 33 medals – 12 gold The Northern Cape managed to secure two medals – one silver and one bronze made a big impact by breaking nine national schools’ records – a significant achievement considering that 23 records were broken in total across the event Ntsoaki Kaiser stood out with two national records for the Free State LSEN team claiming gold in both the girls’ U13 200m and the high jump Ntsoaki Kaiser won the LSEN girls U13 200m gold Sprinter Jayden Parkin shattered the boys’ U17 110m hurdles record twice – first in the semi-final and again in the final with a blistering 13.01 seconds to take gold.  setting a new record in the boys’ U15 100m hurdles with a time of 12.73 seconds He is certainly an athlete to watch in the years ahead.  The undeniable star of the championship was sprinter Rumé Burger who broke four records over the course of the meet In the girls’ U17 100m semi-final on Thursday She then lowered it further in Friday’s final Burger continued her dominance on Saturday in the girls’ U17 200m she bettered that time to win gold in 23.35 seconds beating Luanne du Plooy of Gauteng and Miche van Staden of Western Cape with Van Staden claiming bronze in 24.72 seconds There were simply too many outstanding performances over the three days to mention every individual athlete Piastri leads McLaren one-two at Miami Grand Prix Verstappen takes pole for Miami Grand Prix Italian teen Antonelli makes F1 history Golden Fireballs hand Crinums first defeat in 2025 TNL Crinums get off to a flying start in the 2025 TNL This year’s early winter has posed various challenges and concerns for local nonprofit organisations Bloemfontein Courant reached out to a few across the city to find out how they are gearing up for winter.Here is what they had to say: shoes and soup mixes to make soup for the people this winter We don’t get any funding from the government “We ask the public for help so we can reach out to people in need blankets and stuff to make soup are welcome Our drop-off point is 71 Krause Street Oranjesig or we pick up Contact us on 072 423 6277 or 068 217 6895 or email hesterbekker25@gmail.com for more information” explains that ensuring beneficiaries are clothed warm and fed is key to surviving the winter at the shelter beanies and warm undergarments and jackets help the ladies and children to get through the winter period stews and veggies make for comfortable tummies “Our electricity bill also increases as we try to ensure hot water for all to shower Current projects include the pancake project that has been running for some time Inviting us for events or organising a pancake Friday would assist us in raising funds We also have a home and garden maintenance project where we ensure that our home is beautifully kept … Assisting with cleaning materials and tools is enabling” the founder and director of Siyasanga Qomoyi Foundation says “while we are deeply grateful for every contribution the limited financial resources place a significant strain on our ability to prepare adequately for the harsh winter months We serve hundreds of vulnerable children in the communities of Heidedal and Phomolong particularly during winter when the need for warmth and nourishment becomes even more urgent We urgently need more hands and hearts to come alongside us – whether through financial donations or services – to ensure that no child or elder in our care has to face the winter cold or alone” 80 families benefit from the soup kitchen programme with many more on the waiting list The aim is to continue and expand the VVA Bloemfontein Soup Kitchen to provide a balanced meal to impoverished families more than twice a week community members are placed on the soup kitchen beneficiary list and/ or provided a voucher to buy clothes at Pennywise “In preparation for the harsh Bloemfontein winter we need food items to prepare warm meals such as beans Warm clothing donations and blankets are also needed for the clothing store Fourteen suspects arrested for alleged robberies that took place in the Bloemfontein CBD in the Free State will appear in the local magistrate court today This follows video footage that went viral on social media depicting violent attacks on people in the CBD A woman is seen in the video being forcefully pulled out of a vehicle by six men while robbing her of her belongings a man is assaulted and pickpocketed by a group of men Police say the suspects face charges of aggravated robbery At least 35 houses at Bergman Square in Bloemfontein have been flooded following Friday’s heavy rainfalls The manager of the Red Cross Society in the Free State Claudia Mangwegape says the humanitarian organisation’s volunteers have been on the ground since last night assessing the situation She says they will offer affected families humanitarian relief aid Mangwegape says the area is prone to flooding “The houses are waterlogged at the moment We have about 35 households that are affected so we should be finding a solution towards this area because the place is not habitable for people to stay in We will then engage all the necessary stakeholders.” The Toyota Cheetahs are set to face international opposition in Bloemfontein later this year when they welcome the Georgian national team to Toyota Stadium Georgia will take on the Cheetahs in July in a match they will use as preparation for their Test against the Springboks a week later in Nelspruit The Georgians requested this fixture to fine-tune their squad ahead of facing the back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions Georgia remains a top international side that has repeatedly proven its worth at the highest level of rugby They are formidable opponents capable of going toe-to-toe with the best teams on the world stage Georgia versus the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France Many Georgian players compete for Black Lion in the EPCR Challenge Cup – one of the invitational teams in the competition This match will be an ideal opportunity for the Free State side to toughen up ahead of their return to European competition in December said they are excited to host Georgia in Bloemfontein “We are thrilled to welcome Georgia to Toyota Stadium for what promises to be an exciting encounter “Playing against Georgia will be a great test for the Cheetahs and we’re eager to see how we measure up against an international side.” former England international hooker Richard Cockerill believes facing the Cheetahs will be a valuable test for his squad “Playing the Cheetahs will be a great opportunity for us to prepare for the Test match against the Boks,” said Cockerill Georgia against Portugal at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France “Bloemfontein is a fantastic place to play rugby We are excited to test ourselves against a great rugby nation.” This will be only Georgia’s second-ever tour to South Africa as a national team Black Lion competed in the Currie Cup First Division adding an international flavour to the competition The match between the Cheetahs and Lelos at Toyota Stadium will take place on 14 July The 2025 National High Schools Track & Field Championships got underway in Bloemfontein on Thursday morning and if the early action is anything to go by the competition will be fierce right up until the final event While there was rain in Bloemfontein on Thursday the action on the track and field was certainly red-hot Free State claimed an early gold medal on the opening morning of this prestigious event with local favourite Judy Watson clinching a national title impressed by winning gold in the girls’ U19 discus outperformed Chris-Mari Nel of the Western Cape to take the title Her throw of 49.42 m was nearly half a metre further than her nearest competitor Nel secured silver with an effort of 48.94 m while Jamore Olivier of Gauteng rounded off the podium with a throw of 44.75 m to claim bronze This achievement was even more remarkable given that the young athlete has been recovering from an injury over the past month Watson told OFM Sport that winning a national title in her hometown was the cherry on top “I’m incredibly happy to be crowned the girls’ U19 discus champion at the SA Schools Championships,” said Watson “There’s no better place to achieve this than in Bloemfontein While I usually have to travel to other provinces for strong competition this gold medal is special because I won it right here with my fellow competitors in my own backyard and I'm even more excited for what lies ahead.” Dian Bisschoff won the boys’ U15 hammer throw with a staggering distance of 57.04m while Marnu Geyser finished second with an effort of 48.12 m Wian Bredenkamp completed an all-Free State podium Bulela Mganu of Gauteng took gold in the boys’ U15 1500 m steeplechase in 4:32.01 Gauthvin Makatees of the Western Cape secured silver in 4:39.76 while Bongani Mpond of Gauteng finished third in 4:40.67 Simba Chamunorwa of Gauteng emerged victorious in 9:25.61 with the Free State duo of Katleho Molato (9:35.43) and Reabetswe Chabalala (9:39.43) claiming silver and bronze Liam-Lloyd Doman finished third in the boys’ U19 10,000 m walk with a time of 50:31.77 in another fine results for the Free State while Rudolph Erasmus secured silver in the boys’ U15 pole vault will be competing for national glory until Saturday Kentucky Town operates daily: 09:00 – 21:00 KFC is bringing back its limited-edition Kentucky Town Pop Up experience and this time it’s coming to the city of roses – Bloemfontein  Join the fun at KFC Willows from 20 to 30 March 2025 from 9am to 9pm daily For 11 days only – in honour of their 11 Herbs and Spices secret recipe – Kentucky Town fans can enjoy the ‘finger lickin’ good’ vibes Anny Bruyns and Nikki van der Linde will broadcast live 12:00 – 16:00 on 22 March while OFM Pop Up Radio with Ashmund Martin will be there on 29 March new flavours with these exclusive menu items: Grab the iconic Dunked Sauce and The Colonel’s Sauce – available only at Kentucky Town Bloemfontein Partnering with Converse – drop off your kicks for FREE custom artwork Win Big: Stand a chance to win 1 of 2 pairs of customised Converse Sneakers worth R2000 each Capture your unique AI-powered identity and design your very own KFC bucket – for free Create and share spine-tingling ASMR audio clips directly to your socials Show off your skills at Giant Boba Pong for a chance to win KFC vouchers Siwelele are one of the most cherished football clubs in South Africa and the team's downfall a few years ago affected many soccer lovers has confirmed that three of the five bodies found at the Hennops River in Centurion are those of the missing police officers The constables went missing last week while travelling from Bloemfontein to Limpopo One was identified as the driver of a panel van – an administrative clerk associated with the Lyttelton Police Station – and Constable Boipelo Senoge the body of Constable Linda Cebekulu was found Constable Keamogetswe Buys was confirmed deceased as well “It is with the deep sorrow that I confirm that our three members have been found together with two other bodies – one being of an administration clerk or a gardener from Littleton Police Station,” Masemola said The VW Polo sedan the officers were traveling in was last captured on camera last week at the Brakfontein interchange on the N1 heading north which prompted police to search the Hennops River SAPS has stated that they are still searching for the VW Polo and are hesitant to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the bodies until all evidence is collected The focus remains on uncovering the truth behind this tragedy our investigation will reveal those aspects once we find their vehicle This is not how we expected this case to unfold We were hoping for a positive outcome,” Masemola concluded Thirty four suspects will appear in the Bloemfontein and Batho Magistrate’s Courts on Monday (10/3) after they were arrested for residing at the Southern Landfill site in Bloemfontein A joint operation by the police aimed at addressing criminal activities in the area resulted in the confiscation of drugs The operation that was planned by the Kagisanong police working with Park Road police station and the Department of Home Affairs led to the arrest of the suspects on Friday (7/3) “Investigations indicate that 31 of the arrested suspects are illegal immigrants residing at the landfill site,” said Free State police spokesperson Lorraine Earle “Further investigations are underway to determine whether any suspects are linked to other criminal activities.” “The involvement of local community policing forum patrollers and private security companies underscores the importance of community participation in the fight against crime.” OFM News previously reported in December reports of criminal activity and security lapses raised alarm among local workers and residents who rely on recycling for their livelihoods claimed they’re being displaced and threatened by groups of undocumented immigrants who allegedly dominate the site and engage in illegal activities leaving recyclers and informal residents of the Southern Landfill site near Vista Park destitute The site has always been an issue because it has become a criminals’ playground; two brothers (19 and 22) nearly lost their lives in 2023 when they were attacked by four unknown males One of the assailants eventually shot at them “We are concerned about the crime happening at the Southern Landfill site One of the things we are looking into is the fence that was stolen,” said Mangaung Metro spokesperson Qondile Khedama “The municipality is looking into addressing current waste challenges in the area.” OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg A national schools record was shattered in Bloemfontein on the opening day of the 2025 SA High Schools Track & Field Championship a record-breaking feat took place during the semi-finals of the under-17 girls’ 100m setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling final Bloemfontein’s very own Rumé Burger – daughter of former Toyota Cheetahs and Blitzbok winger Philip Burger – etched her name into the history books by breaking the South African schools record Burger clocked an impressive 11.50 seconds posted the third-fastest time of 11.98 seconds A post shared by Morgan Piek (@morganpiek) this new record was set in rainy conditions in Bloemfontein The previous record of 11.58 seconds was held by another Free State sprinter the Oranje Meisieskool learner claimed gold in the 200m with a blistering time of 23.69 seconds – being the only sprinter to dip under 24 seconds clocking 11.75 seconds after running 11.69 in the semi-finals Burger shared her excitement with OFM Sport about competing on home soil “I’m really looking forward to the weekend ahead with SA Schools Athletics – especially since it’s being hosted in Bloemfontein for the very first time particularly with everything around us feeling so familiar The fact that we can sleep in our own beds and stick to our usual routine is definitely a big advantage “We’re hoping for good weather so that this event can be a great success The Bloemfontein Stadium is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in South Africa and I can’t wait to showcase my talents here in my hometown while representing the Free State “I hope Bloemfonteiners turn up in their numbers to support and cheer each other on I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to see everyone there.” The final of the girls’ U17 100m is set to take place at 12:55 on Friday afternoon Ex-Cheetahs and Griquas tighthead prop Piet Bester was murdered in a district outside of Bloemfontein over the weekend A retired magistrate, the 63-year-old rose to stardom in the Currie Cup in the 1990s and played for the Junior Springboks against the All Blacks in 1992 Bester was renowned for his incredibly strong scrummaging despite weighing under 80 kilograms at the start of his career before bulking out to 95kgs confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder It is believed that Bester was hit with a sharp object on his head on his smallholding in the Glen district outside Bloemfontein “The arrests were made possible through the close cooperation and swift action of the local farming community and police,” a police statement read the body of Mr Bester was discovered by a worker at his residence in the Glen district at approximately 09:00 Jesse Kriel benefits from ‘lucky bounce’ as Springboks star fires Eagles to victory over Kwagga Smith’s Blue Revs “Thanks to the invaluable support of the farming community resulting in the apprehension of two suspects This breakthrough demonstrates the strength of community-police collaboration in addressing crime and the suspects are expected to appear in court soon “The investigation officer remains available for further information and appeals to the public for any additional details that may assist in this case.” Bester’s brother André also played provincial rugby for the Cheetahs packing down as a hooker While Bester never went on to play for the Springboks he did turn out for a Junior Springboks team against the All Blacks that featured many feature many of the stars of the Green and Gold jersey Joost van der Westhuizen and Jannie de Beer all featured in the match Bester’s reputation as a mighty scrummager is well-documented in the Free State with ex-Springboks prop Ollie Le Roux warned of the tighthead when he took his first steps into provincial rugby “The old club rugby system was indeed a tough baptism,” he told Supersport in 2020 “You had older guys in the system like the tough Bester brothers Then you had a masterful scrummager like Dougie Heymans who dished out many a scrumming lesson to a precocious youngster “At the time there were a few stories doing the rounds about my work as a bouncer I preferred to settle things by suggesting they have a drink Charl Marais told me the Bester brothers were coming for me and that Piet was going to welcome me by saying ‘Welcome to hell’ “My response to Charl was to say ‘Piet Bester That story has been embellished a bit as if it happened in the game READ MORE: Springboks set for blockbuster November with French ‘grudge match’ and belated ‘series decider’ Four suspects are set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court after being arrested on charges of human trafficking illegal possession of a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli the arrests on 25 February 2025 followed an intelligence-driven operation led by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) unit “Members reacted to disturbing information about a human trafficking incident unfolding at a house in Bayswater A 39-year-old woman had allegedly been lured by a female suspect with promises of a better life Things turned sour when she was fed drugs and forced to perform acts of a sexual nature and clean the house,” said Mohobeleli A joint operation involving the SOCI and K9 Unit led to raids at two houses even when presented by trusted people,” she warned View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma) Local International Off The Pitch Podcasts & Videos Marumo-Gallants-FC The Siya crew understands that the plan to bring back Bloemfontein Celtic to the top flight of South African football is proving to be a challenge for various reasons. In early January to reveal that Phunya Sele Sele have "Taken a decision to withdraw from participating in the ABC Motsepe League 2024/25 season with immediate effect." READ: Downs' Bafana Stars At Risk Of Missing Pirates Clash The statement further continued to confirm that "The club has finally taken a decision to dispose of its name and trademark to a suitable consortium which is best positioned to obtain a professional status that will see Bloemfontein Celtic Football resurfacing in the Premier Soccer League." The consortium is understood to be led by a Mr Modise and they are working behind the scenes to ensure that Celtic make a return Minister Gayton McKenzie has also spoken publicly about wanting to play a role to have Celtic back in professional football Celtic sold its top flight status to Royal AM in 2021 but they are now looking to make a return to professional football but the Siya crew understands that there would be a big challenge in acquiring the club because of the debt it has accumulated.  Marumo Gallants are understood to be a club identified as a possible purchase which would make life easier because they are already based in Bloemfontein have made it clear that they are not for sale which has become a trend for clubs that end up selling will depend on what happens at the end of the season Indications are that Celtic could buy a status in the Motsepe Foundation Championship A source recently revealed the following to the Siya crew who revealed how much the name of Celtic was sold for READ: Broos Makes Early Request To PSL "There is a local businessman in Bloemfontein and apparently he has paid R2.5 million of the asking price He has been given time until the end of the season to pay the balance to buy the name of Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club," an informant said to the Siya crew as a result the team was withdrawn from the ABC Motsepe League They have been quoted R5 million for the naming rights I think there are a whole lot of guys who are interested in buying Celtic but it's all for political mileage and benefits." Celtic are expected to be back in the PSL next season The 2025 Junior National Tennis Championship got underway in Bloemfontein on Wednesday with over 500 players competing in this prestigious event The tournament was officially launched at Oranje Meisieskool on Wednesday morning with its first-ever opening ceremony Bloemfontein has hosted this championship for over 20 years and the 2025 edition promises to be bigger and better than ever Boys and girls from across the country are competing in four age groups at six different venues across the city The General Manager of Tennis South Africa told OFM Sport that it’s important to continue growing the tournament and making it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved “We have been coming to Bloemfontein for over two decades hosting the Junior Nationals right here,” said Moruthane “This is a very important event for us—crucial for our player pathway and competitive opportunities for our local players at different levels “It’s very exciting to be back in Bloemfontein and what makes it even more special is having American Express as the title sponsor They are enhancing the tournament experience ensuring that players not only have top-class competition on the court but also extraordinary experiences off the court “We’re hosting an official opening ceremony for the very first time which signals our commitment to growing this flagship junior event into something even bigger We want to provide great experiences for our local players their parents who have travelled to Bloemfontein the first results were already available by Wednesday afternoon top seed Reuben de Klerk progressed to the second round on a bye and will face Reuben Lerm Second seed Connor Doig and third seed Willem de Waal also advanced to the second round with byes De Waal will take on Nicolai Paraian in his next match while Doig will face the winner of the clash between Angus Fyvie and Hanno Bouwer top seed Jessica Schilz will meet Megan Fourie on Thursday second seed Korona Rugara will play Olivia Clark and third seed Milla Kotze will take on Avida Caby Alcaraz and Musetti battle for Monte-Carlo Masters title Junior Nationals ready to take place in Bloemfontein Jannik Sinner banned for three months for doping Sinner dominates Australian Open final Keys wins Australian Open for first Grand Slam title SA News African News World News The Club House More Premiership Bloemfontein Celtic has finally been revived with the iconic club's return to the PSL imminent following successful talks with a business consortium.Celtic have been campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League after selling their status to Royal AM in 2021 READ: Pirates' joyous memories from last trip to Al Ahly's home KickOff.com previously reported that a business consortium behind Marumo Gallants were in negotiations with Siwelele Chairman Max Tshabalala to purchase the famous name and trademark Tshabalala did not sell the trademarked name 'Bloemfontein Celtic' when he sold the status to Thwihli Thwahla and after a strategic move by the consortium which bought the status of Moroka Swallows one of the main priorities was to buy the name This was after they also relocated to Bloemfontein and played their home matches at Dr negotiations between the consortium and Tshabalala who wanted R5 million for the naming rights a few years ago as the Siwelele boss allegedly wanted more money and a stake in the new establishment this website has been led to believe that a deal has finally been struck between Gallants and Tshabalala to rename the club Bloemfontein Celtic after the latter withdrew his team from participating in the ABC Motsepe League "We regret to inform you that Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club has taken the decision to withdraw from participating in the ABC Motsepe League 2024/25 season with immediate effect," Tshabalala wrote to the League this week in a letter leaked to KickOff.com "In the best interest of the Free State province and football lovers in general the club has taken the decision to dispose its name and trademarks to a suitable consortium which is best positioned to obtain a professional status that will see Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club resurfacing in the Premier Soccer League again that we apologise for any inconvenience that the above may have caused in the process." 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After the initial talks were not successful and changed the club colours to Green and White after they struck a deal with the Siwelele Supporters Club According to a reliable source close to the dealings Gallants have finally purchased the naming rights and will be renamed Bloemfontein Celtic This publication has been led to believe that Tshabalala will form part of the consortium which also includes former owner Jimmy Augousti hence the withdrawal of Celtic from the ABC Motsepe League Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema has been named Bafana Bafana captain for Sunday’s first-round African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Egypt in Bloemfontein Despite the match falling outside a FIFA international window a reasonably strong team has still been selected thanks to Premier Soccer League clubs agreeing to release players during what is a big weekend in the league The Egyptians won’t be at full strength either with key players like Liverpool great Mo Salah unavailable for the Pharaohs it will be a momentous occasion – not only will he be making his debut for South Africa but he will also captain the team in his hometown The midfielder (29) began his professional career in Bloemfontein he made 60 appearances for Phunya Sele Sele and he quickly became a crowd favourite at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium he was signed by the seven-time back-to-back defending champions His next mission was to break into the Bafana Bafana squad While this may not be a full-strength national team it is a massive opportunity for the young squad to gain international experience and impress coach Hugo Broos Ronald Pfumbidzai (left) and Neo Maema in the colours of Bloemfontein Celtic Maema shared his excitement about leading the team in his hometown on Sunday Having the opportunity to captain the national team is a huge honour for me especially because it’s in my hometown – it’s where I started so it’s very important for me to apply myself well and be an example but I can only do my best with the information I get from the coach.” Another former Celtic player in the Bafana Bafana squad is Bongani Sam who was one of the team’s last captains before their PSL status was sold himself was born and bred in Botshabelo and is no stranger to Bloemfontein either Sunday’s CHAN qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Egypt at the Toyota Stadium will kick off at 16:00 OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg Amakhosi and Bucs both seek redemption in Soweto Derby Two Gallants players named in Bafana squad for CHAN Qualifiers Liverpool claim 20th league title in fine style Sundowns into CAF Champions League final Marumo must make chances count against the Amakhosi