───   KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 13:37 Mon The Theunissen-based Masilonyana Municipality officials face mounting pressure after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided their premises searched three municipal offices in connection with allegations surrounding the refurbishment of the Brandfort water treatment works and raw water pump stations as well as the upgrading of the Brandfort sports centre (phase II) it received information that the project management offices changed their premises The new premises in Winnie Mandela (formerly Brandfort) may have some of the documents the SIU needs for the investigation The SIU found some needed documents at the second premises the SIU obtained consent from the municipality to search another property as this address was not part of the search warrant The operation forms part of an ongoing investigation into alleged maladministration and corruption linked to two major tenders It followed a warrant granted by the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (3/12) enabling the SIU to seize evidence according to Proclamation 182 of 2024 which mandates an investigation into the maladministration of municipal funds and tenders The probe aims to uncover whether municipal officials said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.  “The investigation specifically seeks to determine if the actions of those involved led to financial losses for the municipality or other forms of maladministration.” SIU raiding offices of Masilonyana Municipality Efforts to obtain the required documents voluntarily from the municipality “This lack of cooperation left us no choice but to seek court intervention “The search allowed us to collect documents and electronic equipment necessary for auditing and compliance reviews of tenders awarded between 1 January 2013 and 13 September this year.” The SIU secured several critical items during the raid including company registration documents of involved service providers including emails and cloud storage linked to personnel involved in the projects The municipality has recently been embroiled in scandals including the legal battle with a former legal services manager The ongoing dispute with Itumeleng Mogaecho centres around allegations of misconduct and the municipality’s failure to comply with awards issued by the SA Local Government Bargaining Council which ordered compensation in two cases in favour of Mogaecho Ondersoek begin ná brand by spogskool in Kimberley Questions mount ahead of Free State constables’ joint memorial service Swaar straf gevra nadat jong kinders doodbrand Family of abandoned North West baby sought North West scholar transport operators will finally receive payments 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 The Brandfort police arrested a 34-year-old man for the alleged fatal assault of his 38-year-old girlfriend Police arrived at the scene during the early morning hours and discovered the lifeless victim in a bedroom in Nonzamo Park “The victim sustained severe injuries on the upper arm and face,” stated police spokesperson Sergeant Palesa Thabana “It is alleged that the suspect hit the victim repeatedly with a wooden stick following accusations of infidelity The 38-year-old victim was declared dead on the scene the 34-year-old male suspect was then arrested for murder He is set to appear in the Brandfort Magistrate’s Court today (7/4) 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 leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) accused the African National Congress (ANC) of betraying the legacy of anti-apartheid icon Mama Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela Speaking at the EFF Freedom Day rally in Brandfort Standing across from the house where Mama Winnie was banished by the apartheid regime Malema paid tribute to her sacrifices while launching a blistering critique of the ANC’s failures His address touched on a range of issues—from local governance woes in Masilonyana to South Africa’s budget crisis under the ANC-DA Government of National Unity (GNU) and the EFF’s solidarity with global struggles in Palestine urging South Africans to confront the unfinished business of liberation and rebuild a nation true to the ideals Mama Winnie fought for Malema opened his speech by honouring Mama Winnie calling her the “mother of our revolution.” He spoke from a place of deep historical significance—Brandfort where she was forcibly relocated by the apartheid regime in 1977 Mama Winnie endured nearly nine years of isolation she turned this punishment into a powerful act of defiance She turned her punishment into power,” he said highlighting how her house became a hub for political activity and upliftment.He recounted her sacrifices during Nelson Mandela’s 27-year imprisonment the name of Nelson Mandela might not have survived,” Malema declared and 491 days of solitary confinement under the Terrorism Act in 1969 opposing the ANC’s shift to neoliberalism and its failure to deliver land and justice.Malema’s tribute was not just a history lesson—it was a rallying cry to reclaim her memory from those who The heart of Malema’s speech was a searing attack on the ANC for abandoning Mama Winnie and the ideals she embodied He accused the party of sidelining her after 1990 when political prisoners were released and exiles returned “She opposed the direction of the ANC’s policies—its retreat from nationalisation and its failure to deliver land and justice to the people,” he said and kept out of positions of power.”Malema pointed to the ANC’s coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the GNU as the ultimate betrayal “Why do you call yourselves free people of South Africa when your own former liberation movement has decided to share power with those who tortured Mama Winnie Mandela and banned her to this house here in Brandfort?” he asked the crowd He imagined Mama Winnie restless in her grave betrayed by a movement she sacrificed her life for now aligned with “racists she fought her entire life.” This critique tapped into a broader sentiment of disillusionment with the ANC Malema argued that the party’s compromises in 1994 left South Africa with “no dignity and no freedom,” a theme he returned to throughout his address Malema used Freedom Day to question the meaning of freedom in post-apartheid South Africa it is a reminder that we compromised too much in 1994,” he said arguing that the country’s liberation remains incomplete without justice for apartheid-era crimes He listed unresolved cases—the assassination of Chris Hani in 1993 and the murder of the Cradock Four in 1985 “Our freedom is incomplete because those who killed our liberation icons continue to live amongst us and have never accounted for their crimes,” he asserted.He painted a grim picture of life in modern South Africa particularly in Brandfort and the Free State our people are living in their own sewage,” he said He highlighted unreliable water and electricity in Brandfort unemployed youth turning to drugs and alcohol “What kind of freedom do we have where there are children raising other children in shacks not knowing where their next meal is going to come from?” he asked urging the crowd to reject a freedom devoid of dignity.Malema also decried the sexual abuse of learners by teachers and the rise of crime due to absent governance the spirit of Mama Winnie demands it,” he concluded linking her legacy to the ongoing fight for true emancipation Malema slammed the ANC’s governance in Masilonyana Local Municipality He accused an ANC councillor in Ward 2 of “demanding sex for jobs” from young women “This corrupt councillor here in Masilonyana is taking advantage of the women of this community by demanding sex for jobs,” he said alleging further corruption in giving business opportunities to cronies he claimed jobs were reserved for ANC members residents paid R2000 bribes to jump housing lists Malema painted a picture of neglect—sewage spilling into streets “Gangsters have taken over this community because there is no government to protect you,” he said blaming the ANC for abandoning its people.He promised that under EFF rule job and housing allocations would be transparent and community-driven not decided “in ANC meetings or in bedrooms.” Recent reports of Masilonyana’s financial collapse and its placement under provincial administration in 2024 bolstered his claims with residents long complaining of poor service delivery Malema reserved some of his sharpest criticism for South Africa’s budget crisis under the ANC-DA GNU He warned that the country is operating without a budget “Nowhere in the history of the world has a country been able to operate without a budget,” he said predicting the collapse of services like crime prevention there can be no money to fight crime and gender-based violence so the women and children of South Africa are in danger,” he added.He blamed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for withdrawing key bills—the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriations Bill—and mishandling the VAT increase reversal “Enoch Godongwana has demonstrated shocking ignorance of parliamentary processes,” Malema said He mocked the ANC’s celebration of the VAT reversal with some applying a 15.5% rate and others 15% until 15 May.Malema positioned the EFF as the only consistent voice in the crisis claiming it warned Parliament against an “illegal fiscal framework” adopted on 2 April “We told the Speaker of Parliament that she is engaged in an illegal process,” he said with experts warning of delays in funding for public servants and infrastructure Malema’s speech extended beyond South Africa’s borders expressing solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide He condemned Israel’s occupation of Palestine “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the people of Palestine,” he said and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MPs for visiting Israel on a “fact-finding mission.” “This so-called ‘fact-finding mission’ is a betrayal of everything our country stands for,” he said accusing them of supporting “white imperialism and Zionist aggression.”He praised Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré for nationalizing resources and resisting imperialism despite surviving nearly 20 assassination attempts but because he represents the awakening of African self-determination,” Malema said urging the African Union to isolate Morocco until it ends its occupation.Malema saluted China’s defiance of the USA under President Xi Jinping advocating for stronger South Africa-China ties praising his advocacy for the poor and his condemnation of the Gaza genocide adding a poignant note to his global outlook Malema concluded by rallying EFF members to rebuild the party as a “vibrant” force for the poor He praised their picket lines demanding water where the EFF opposes the “racist” enclave of Orania He saluted the EFF Youth Command for seeking justice in the murder of a Walter Sisulu University student and urged continued Branch People’s Assemblies to take the organization to the people.“To our members of Parliament continue to fight against corruption,” he said declaring the EFF South Africa’s “official opposition” based on its parliamentary work His vision is a party that shields the marginalized echoing Mama Winnie’s legacy of resistance 🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 102 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “Hope for Matjhabeng as Executive Mayor Khalipha Rolls Out Plan for Renewal After ANC Reinstatement” Direct PDF Link:https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Central-News-Issue-102.pdf Read all our publications on magzter:https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio “Phathakahle” (handle with care) is what the residents once named the township at Brandfort, the Free State town that is now the centre of a controversy over its name change to Winnie Mandela.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads roads closed and ANC officials made to feel unwelcome not only in the crumbling dorp but the untarred streets of Majwamasweu township was a last act by the apartheid authorities “to bury me forever” it was she who put the town on international map when authorities dumped her there from Soweto with her belongings outside house 808 Mothupi Street Town with no name…Home to Winnie Mandela in banishment Brandfort was written up in history books as the town where the British set up a concentration camp for white Afrikaner women and children at Dwyersdorp — as well as a second at Nooitgedacht for black South Africans caught up in the war The camp cemetery was declared a national monument in 1985 and currently holds Provincial Heritage Site status Hendrik Verwoerd, a man who has come to embody apartheid and its ruthless application by the National Party he led, lived for a short while in Brandfort. In fact, he completed high school there in 1919.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The Dutch-born Verwoerd’s parents had opted to move to South Africa because of their sympathies with the “Boer nation” was an assistant evangelist in the Dutch Reformed Church and took up a position in Brandfort About 46km to the West of Brandfort is Florisbad A skull found at the site in 1932 is regarded as an important ancestral human fossil The town is located in the Lejweleputswa (grey rock) region of the Free State and was founded in 1866 While there are many competing ghosts of history that swirl about Brandfort it might be time for them all to do some work for the wretched living and help spark and revive tourism to the historic area Brandfort main drag with Wynie’s Meals on Wheels can be left to his acolytes who flock to visit his shrine has finally been renovated with R14 million set aside for a museum project The freshly painted three-roomed house stands empty The “museum” is devoid of artefacts or any trace of Winnie Madikizela Mandela. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating complaints that money was siphoned off by officials and contractors.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads What could potentially be a sustainable income-earning asset for the township and the town itself lies unutilised and wasted.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The Boston Globe in 1982 on Winnie’s banishment to Brandfort Petty political infighting has seen Winnie Mandela’s name become the focus of a pushback from both black and white residents of the town who say the ANC-run municipality’s lack of service delivery over the years does her name a dishonour has said it is not against the name change just the manner in which the ANC forced it on residents without consultation Three attempts to unveil the new name have been scuppered “If you keep pounding and pounding on the same spot the feeling dies the nerves die,” wrote Winnie Mandela in the Epilogue of the 2012 publication of her memoir 491 Days Winnie Mandela and her legacy have been claimed by the EFF but the party to whom she dedicated her life The pounding Winnie’s memory has received from ANC appears to have “killed” the feeling it should have for one of its most committed members The newly refurbished house of late struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Brandfort Free State during a visit on Sunday 12 January which is meant to be turned into a heritage site began in 2005 — 16 years later it remains unfinished Winnie’s greatest flaw was that she was a bad judge of character and trusted too many people who turned out to be either state plants charlatans or chancers using their proximity to her for their own ends On the day Daily Maverick passed through Brandfort a large marquee which had been erected for the official ribbon cutting of the name change was being torn down after the event was cancelled gazetted the name change of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela Madikizela-Mandela recalled: “I was never as active as in Brandfort.” The then wife of one of the world’s most famous political prisoners wrote that while “I presented a public picture that I was in banishment and the international community was singing our name all over the world I recruited from the Free State like you have never known” This fighting spirit encapsulated Winnie’s life in a landscape where apartheid laws followed her even in her dreams This is said to be the hill from where the apartheid police would watch Winnie Mandela after she was banished in the late 1970s In Brandfort, Winnie faced the danger and the thrill of outwitting the security police minders who monitored her every move, so dangerous was she considered to be.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Because I was under house arrest in Brandfort I would sign in at 6pm and then get back to the house dress like an auntie who was selling apples and get into the car The image of Winnie passing for “an auntie” is too good not to savour sleeping and they always came to check around 5.30am By 6am they are in front of the house to see if i was going to get up and I would go out — the toilets were outside — and stretch myself I would act as if I had been sleeping — meanwhile she wrote those who fought “for their own positions” had fought “differently from us” — from Tambo the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation to investigate Eastern Cape ANC mayor Oscar Mabuyane for allegedly siphoning R450,000 from the R1 million set aside for Madikizela-Mandela’s memorial service the lack of commitment to honoring her memory as well as the alleged misappropriation of funds for a memorial in her home province of Bizana reveals the ANC’s shallow remembering and hollow forgetting of a struggle icon Winnie Mandela found herself in the eye of a political storm and bore the targeted and cruel harassment of the state with inspirational resistance I think my feelings got blunted because you were so tortured that the pain reached a threshold where you could not feel pain anymore If you keep pounding and pounding on the same spot the feeling dies I can feel us sliding back right now,” said Winnie Mandela 2012 The part about Winnie being a murderer and inciter of some of the most gruesome violence SA has seen ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " together with the Hawks and the South African Police Service have conducted a search operation at the Masilonyana Local Municipality in the Free State The operation was part of an investigation into allegations of maladministration related to two tenders at the municipality The two tenders are for the refurbishment of Brandfort Water Treatment Works and Raw Water Pump Stations and the upgrading of Brandfort Sport Centre Phase II “The investigation focus also seeks to establish whether municipal officials or any other involved parties unduly benefit themselves or others or fruitless and wasteful expenditure or financial losses for the municipality “The search and seizure operation is the SIU’s last resort to access documents needed for the investigation and obtain the necessary documentation for its investigation Since the proclamation was published on 13 September 2024 the SIU has made multiple attempts to contact the municipality in an effort to access the required documents voluntarily “This lack of cooperation prompted the SIU to seek the court’s assistance in securing a warrant to search and seize pertinent documents and electronic equipment,” the SIU said in a statement Materials seized during the search operation include: “The SIU is empowered by the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act) to subpoena bank statements and cell phone records and interrogate witnesses under oath to thoroughly investigate allegations brought before it “The SIU is also empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by acts of corruption the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action,” the SIU said Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy SuperSport Schools Plus The visitors got only 10 minutes out of their try-hungry no 8 Greyven Dempsey before he had to leave due to injury but he still managed to cross the whitewash once spearheaded by their captain Matthew Fletcher and the 8th-man Eduan van den Heever exploited Brandfort’s defences expertly and by halftime they had raced into a 29-8 lead Brandfort fought back hard in the second half to outscore St Andrew’s 19-14 after the break but the Bloemfontein outfit’s strong start was enough to secure an impressive win Fletcher and Van den Heever crossed for two tries apiece Saints will use their impressive win as a building block ahead of their next outing against Cornwall Hill College on 1 June Heatherdale put in a strong performance to blank Bloemfontein Suid 26-0 The match between Zastron and President Steyn was but the “Vultures” had already amassed 29 unanswered points and had the Steyners on the rack thanks to a brace each by the centre-pairing of Frans Botha and Kami Masiloane St Andrew’s School 43 – Tries: Matthew Fletcher (2) SPS Brandfort 27 – Tries: Xander van Heerden Heatherdale 26 – Tries: Keoratile Mphasa Related News Junior Springboks rotate team for Australia clash SA Rugby 2025-05-05 Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to his starting line-up and included four players who played Hilton College captured a hard-fought 25-20 victory over their arch-rivals Glenwood fullback Joshua Kopp kicked the Durban side to a tense one-point victory over Marlow Landbou in a low-scoring thriller Die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool se Wit Bulle is vanjaar van stoetgehalte Affies het vir Boland Landbou met 74-14 gekarnuffel The third and final day of the 2025 Absa Wildeklawer kicked off with three emphatic victories on the B-field at Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to his starting line-up and included four players who played Home | Politics Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has approved the name change for the Free State town of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela The name change was Gazetted on Friday in terms of Section 10(2) of the South African Geographical Names Council Act (Act No 118 0f 1998) The late struggle icon Winnie Mandela was banished to Brandfort in 1977 by the apartheid regime   She died in 2018 at the age of 81. Since then talks began to rename the town after her to honour her legacy The latest development comes as the country approaches Women’s Day this coming Monday under the theme of “The Year of Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke: Realising Women’s Rights.”  The Democratic Alliance in Free State says it intends to oppose what it calls the flawed name change process of the town of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela The official opposition says the correct protocol for the name change was not followed The DA’s Masilonyana Municipality Councillor Mariet Visser says the municipality cannot afford the name change “Public participation and other processes were not followed Financial implications were not budgeted for Masilonyana can hardly afford additional non-essential expenditures The local government needs to realise that communities have a right to decide on matters in their own towns “The DA will lodge a petition to assist residents who want to comment on the name change to do so within the prescribed period in terms of the South African geographical names council Written questions will also be written to the minister to establish what processes if any was followed during the processes,” Visser adds ───   KATLEHO MORAPELA 13:24 Tue Free State’s small town of Brandfort will once again be the center of attention this week is expected to hold an event to celebrate the renaming of the town to Winnie Mandela.  made news last week Friday when Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa gazetted the name change Brandfort is where the late struggle stalwart was banished to by the apartheid regime in 1977.  which has over the years drawn controversy after millions earmarked to refurbish it into a museum Plans of turning the house into a museum were announced in 2005 and has since drawn controversy has for years made news with residents alleging it had turned into a hub of criminal activities with many also accusing former premier Ace Magashule of embezzling funds earmarked for it Mthethwa refuted allegations that funds for this project were looted During his oversight visit again in April this year he refuted the allegations stating that the restoration processes to turn Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's Brandfort house into a museum will soon be completed coupled with the erection of her statue at the premises and the renaming of the town Mthethwa further stated that he is pleased that the construction of a sports facility opposite the house is also underway This is where Ntombela and the MEC for Arts and Culture are expected to lead the unveiling event for the renaming of the town on 20 August 2021 the DA in the province has raised concerns over the decision to rename the town putting into question what they view as a lack of public participation in the process ───   KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:33 Mon was inspired to create a community outreach programme at the Monamodi Public School in Brandfort told OFM News that he came to the school when doing a fine art project Geduld eluded that he partnered with Glen Agriculture of the Free State Department of Agriculture to help provide training with regard to small garden crop planting and maintenance of a garden The tunnel employs four people and is expected to last at least seven years for helping us with a little bit of funds to basically do this project It will be the first if its kind here at one of the schools We built it to help the unemployed youth by creating jobs here and it is all about creating food security also so that we provide them with nutritious fresh veggies on a daily basis," adds Geduld Geduld reiterated that the net and the plastic used to to construct this tunnel will hopefully last for 7 years He also said  they will monitor the project on a weekly basis as this will also help with training of community members on how to create their own sustainable vegetable garden OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi and Bambatha Giko The ANC’s 108th birthday celebrations have been a time for the party to commemorate its history and the freedom fighters it claims as its own One of the week-long series of events saw President Cyril Ramaphosa lay a wreath at the Kimberley gravesite of the ANC’s first secretary-general The structure of the clinic that was bombed by apartheid police will also form part of the heritage site The clinic was established by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela right next to the house during the late 1970s after she was banished to Brandfort Arts and Culture is pleased to report that the construction of the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Brandfort House Museum is now complete,” announced a statement on 8 December 2019 “24-hour security services have been appointed by Letjweleputswa District Municipality to guard this prized national asset and are currently on site.” An internet hub has been built next to Winnie Mandela’s house and is supposedly meant to serve surrounding community members the building remains empty and no internet installations have been made yet A log the security guard handed us to sign reflected that the last visitors had been journalists from the Daily Sun The late struggle icon’s house refurbishments have been marred by a lot of controversies Community members say the heritage site is set to open in March 2020 but this has not been confirmed by the Department of Arts and Culture which has been responsible for the latest refurbishments The project has been “completed” in the sense that Madikizela-Mandela’s old home has been renovated It is this building that will eventually house the museum — but for now The guard said that she believed authorities were currently collecting Madikizela-Mandela’s old possessions to be housed within it According to the government’s December statement, “the DSAC is in the process of procuring expertise to collect artefacts and curate an exhibition”.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Collecting “artefacts” relating to Madikizela-Mandela’s Brandfort stay is bound to be a fraught project: for many years after her return to Soweto, the house was used as a residence by relatives of Sol Plaatje. Before the current renovation, the building was reportedly used as a base by Brandfort youngsters up to no good.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads the failure of the government to take meaningful steps to turn the house into a memorial for Madikizela-Mandela has been a source of anger and sadness for her supporters Claims of fraud and corruption have surrounded the project which has stagnated in a province under the control of Ace Magashule for almost a decade of that period Documents for the renovation seen by Independent Media show that the department set aside R4-million for the museum Included in the plans were a “multi-purpose centre with Wi-Fi facilities” The “multi-purpose centre” currently takes the form of a large room The promised toilets have materialised — in one the delivery box for the toilet seat was still stashed against a wall — but there is no sign of visitor parking There are few places which could benefit more from a tourist attraction than Majwamasweu Township. Evidence of poverty is acute; roads barely exist; the rubbish strewn everywhere points to an environment where sanitation services do not operate.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads It is not hard to imagine the economic boost that a proper heritage site here could bring to residents — but as it stands Locals told Daily Maverick they had heard the museum might open in March “What are you going to write about?” one asked curiously as we left “That the people of Brandfort are so poor?” She was still laughing with her friends as we drove off The project to preserve and restore the house that late struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was banished to in Brandfort in the Free State has been assigned to new contractors the department attempted to dispel rumours that nothing had been done to restore the house and to turn it into a museum as promised Spokesperson Asanda Magaqa said the department had consistently given the house due attention and priority which included personal engagements with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in the months before she died READ: ANC to launch Winnie Madikizela-Mandela day of service There have also been ongoing discussions with the family and the Winnie Mandela Foundation She said Risimati Consulting Engineers had entered into an agreement with the department on March 13 and that the last consultation meeting between the department and Risimati took place on April 7 Madikizela-Mandela was banished to the house by the apartheid regime between 1977 and 1986 Money was allocated to the Free State government to restore the house as a museum The house has been a focal point since Madikizela-Mandela’s death on April 2 who is now the ANC’s secretary general denied any wrongdoing when he spoke to journalists last week He reaffirmed that the museum would be built “I’m not personally ashamed because we have been in contact since 2007 The family knows there’s no government money that’s been lost,” he said Magaqa on Wednesday said the department became involved with the project to preserve the stalwart’s legacy and the “Winne Madikizela-Mandela House Project” in 2012 A budget of R3m was allocated for the project In a report by City Press in June last year the initial contract holders Independent Development Trust (IDT) told the publication that the department initially allocated R3m to the project of which R1 858 195.71 was transferred to them as an implementing agent to oversee the project They appointed a contractor for R2.5m in November 2013 but terminated the contract one year later the IDT had spent R593 622 on consultancy fees “mainly for preliminaries and general site establishment and earthworks,” IDT spokesperson Lesego Mashigo told the publication at the time He said that the scope of work was later reduced Other features such as the youth centre were scrapped “The IDT was awaiting approval from the department to proceed with the appointment of a [second] contractor for the implementation of the reduced scope of work when its agreement was terminated on November 9 He explained that a process of ceding all the documentation assets and liabilities to the department was under way and that the remaining amount of R1 264 573.42 remained in the department’s trust account Magaqa said internal report findings had indicated that the department had not received “value for money” and it initiated a process to look for a new contractor to continue with the work The new contractors would restore the house and bombed clinic and convert them to interpretative spaces They would also build a multi-purpose centre with Wi-Fi facilities and parking space Magaqa said the department had secured the site with the assistance of its provincial department the site continues to be under 24-hour surveillance in order to ensure that this prized historical site and important legacy project is under guard and safe from vandalism or being caused to deteriorate until the new contractors are on site.” Magaqa said the department was looking forward to getting Madikizela-Mandela’s input on the plans presented by the new contractors at the meeting on April 7 – four days after her death the department is forging ahead with plans to ensure that this project is finalised in order that South Africans [are] able to benefit for many generations from the preserving of her legacy and specifically the historically significant ‘House Number 802’ in Brandfort where Madikizela-Mandela was banished [to] on Monday VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995 Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved. Website by Volt Africa.  Disclaimer | Terms & Conditions  |  Privacy Policy Western Cape’s No.1 Community Radio Station The project to restore and preserve the house in Brandfort, in the Free State where struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was banished for eight years, will now be completed in the next 12-18 months. This is according to the Department of Arts and Culture’s national spokesperson Asanda Magaqa, who says the job has been assigned to new contractors. Speaking on Capricorn FM Talk on Thursday night, Magaqa said they terminated the contract with the previous company in 2016, because there were no signs of progress in the project. Magaqa said when the department became involved in the project in 2012, the budgeted amount was R3 million. She further said the department’s internal forensic investigation has revealed that out of the R1.8 million that was already spent, almost R600 000 is accounted for, and the department is working on recouping the outstanding money from the previous contractor. Copyright © 2022Capricorn FM.All rights reserved Home | South Africa Residents of Winnie Mandela Town, previously known as Brandfort maintain that the name change of the town will not improve service delivery the Free State government announced its intention to host an official unveiling ceremony of the name change brought anger among the now Winnie Mandela town residents This led to road signs depicting the name change to Winnie Mandela being defaced Residents said resources used to arrange the ceremony should have been diverted to service delivery. A marquee was erected with a stage and two small tents opposite Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Museum, but the event was postponed The town was formerly named after the president of the erstwhile Orange Free State The postponed ceremony was going to coincide with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s birth date Some residents were totally against the name change and demanded public participation “It was gonna be better if only they were renaming only the street she used to live in not the entire town because Bandfort is known as Majwemasweu.” “Our children have been growing up here they should know the history of Brandfort but if things change to Winnie it will be difficult for them.” Government said the renaming process had taken almost three years to conclude gazetted the renaming of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela on the 6th of August The African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supported the move Oupa Khoabane is the Free State ANC Interim Provincial Committee spokesperson. “Our heroes and heroines need to be celebrated therefore there is nothing wrong in remembering them with dignity because they were part of the struggle and mama Winnie is one of them.” Free State EFF Secretary Bosanku Msimanga says the name change is long overdue “The reason why the place name is Brandfort is because land thieves of Ruben origin invaded and colonised the area to an extent that our ancestors were brutalised to a point of accepting the name Brandfort as a norm we support the name change to mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela but that must be coupled with service delivery.” But the Democreatic Alliance (DA) said government overlooked procedures when deciding on the name change DA councillor Marieta Visser says there was no response to the petitions or public participation “Since the gazetting of the Brandfort name change to Winnie Mandela Town on the 6th of August we never had any response from the minister for sports Nathi Mthethwa The community spoke out against this name change The minister also did not respond to public participation.” It’s now unclear when will the unveiling ceremony take place Mixed reactions to approval of name change of the town of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela: Armand Cloete has accused Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa of driving the agenda to rename Brandfort to Winnie Mandela to cover up the African National Congress (ANC) led government’s service delivery failures Cloete says the ANC has deviated from the initial undertaking of 1994 that towns should not be renamed The party has joined other opposition parties and organisations to oppose a plan by government to change the name “The whole process rigs of political populism in the sense that according to the legislation there should be decent public participation and then the authority should listen to what the people needs in Brandfort and in Masilonyana as a Municipality We know that this will cost a lot of money to taxpayers and it will affect the different spheres of government local provincial and the national government,” says Cloete The ANC in the Free State says it stands by the community’s wish to see Brandfort renamed to Winnie Mandela.  Mthethwa, gazetted the name change over a month ago. This is part of preserving the legacy of all freedom fighters The late struggle stalwart – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela – was banished to this town of Brandfort in 1977 and lived there for almost nine years “As the ANC we agree with the people of Brandfort who want the name to be changed to Winnie Mandela We believe that those who are against that are those people who don’t want to see any change and who don’t want to identify themselves with the changing history So we really support it because it’s an issue that was demanded by the people of that place that Brandfort be changed to Winnie Mandela.” says Oupa Khoabane spokesperson for ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee VIDEO: Free State DA against renaming of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela Senior government officials and private company directors are facing charges relating to the alleged looting of funds intended for the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Brandfort House Museum in the Free State Investigators claim that the accused embezzled funds and that service providers were appointed without following the proper procurement processes The six accused appeared briefly in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. They are: advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act The accused were not asked to plead and were granted bail of R20,000 each Read more in Daily Maverick: “Brandfort: Place of hollow forgetting and shallow remembering”  Visit Daily Maverick’s home page for more news, analysis and investigationsadvertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads In October 2021, Daily Maverick assistant editor Marianne Thamm wrote: “The ‘museum’ is devoid of artefacts or any trace of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The Special Investigating Unit is investigating complaints that money was siphoned off by officials and contractors.” The dilapidated state of the museum Thamm sums up as: “Neglect of Winnie Mandela’s legacy the lack of commitment to honouring her memory … as well as the alleged misappropriation of funds for a memorial in her home province of Bizana reveal the ANC’s shallow remembering and hollow forgetting of a Struggle icon.” Culture and Recreation paid a large sum for construction work on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s former home in the Free State The issue of the museum was raised during the ANC’s latest policy discussion paper on Arts The six accused were arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday morning Hawks spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo said: “It is alleged that during the period of January 2008 until December 2010 money was allocated to the Brandfort Museum project popularly known as the Winnie Mandela Museum was postponed to 11 November so that further suspects could be arrested Clearly there is no respect or care for the struggle but just another rush to the trough It gives them time to hide money and pressure witnesses Congrats to those who continue to pursue those stealing from tax and rate payers…all we now need is the DOJ to be able to do their job without fear or favour when they beat Bloemfontein High 24-5 under the lights of Victoria Park Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools – Register now It was a stylish home win for the Saints’ boys in their league opener spearheaded the attack and went over for a brace of tries with further five-pointers being scored by Eduan van den Heever and Tumelo Lebepe which was more than enough to secure a convincing victory at home and draw a line under an exciting day of rugby Brandfort recorded an impressive victory over Zastron with their hooker also leading the charge and scoring a hat-trick Big Greyven Dempsey brought his tally for their last three games to 10 tries by adding another brace to his record so Saturday’s victory bodes well for the boys from Brandfort Sand du Plessis ran rampant against Bloemfontein South was the most destructive player of the day He crossed the try line on four occasions as they crushed Heatherdale 52-8 Heatherdale never stopped asking questions of the Steyners’ defence and their lanky no St Andrews 24 (12) – Tries: Lucien Hugo (2) Bloemfontein High 5 (5) – Try: Kara Sebotelo SPS Brandfort 45 (19) – Tries: Xander van Heerden (3) Sand du Plessis 55 – Tries: Shaun Maina (3) President Steyn 52 – Tries: Juanrich Swanepoel (4) Government is forging ahead with the official unveiling of the newly-named Free State town Winnie Mandela Information signs symbolising the Winnie Mandela town have already been mounted That’s despite threats of court action by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and scores of other residents objecting to the name change The DA has accused government of not conducting public consultations ahead of the renaming The official unveiling ceremony will be held on Sunday to coincide with the birthdate of the late struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was banished to the sprawling Free State town in May 1977 She lived at the iconic House 802 in the Majwemasweu Township with her youngest daughter The house has been restored and turned into a museum Government says the renaming process has taken almost three years to conclude gazetted the renaming of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela on 6th of August DA files petition against renaming of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela say government should be focusing its financial resources on improving service delivery Issues raised include a lack of basic water supply Local businessman and resident Frans Posthumus explains “Name change is actually the last thing in Brandfort that needs to be rectified lack of people with necessary qualifications I think if they can rather build a Winnie Mandela Clinic – that’s something for the community That will be more worthwhile than changing the name.” The residents feel that public consultation was inadequate and have echoed the sentiments of Posthumus “I don’t like it very much because Brandfort has a unique history it’ll always stay Brandfort,” says one resident “I’m not feeling very well because they didn’t consult us They change our town into Winnie Mandela’s names,” says another resident If they can just use the money to fix the roads … even the City Hall is gone A close friend of Winnie Madikizela Mandela’s in the 1970s and former primary school teacher in Brandfort they promised that – even when writing the letters asking for permission to use the name – they said it’s going to be from Masilonyana to Winnie Madikizela Mandela they are saying Brandfort to Winnie Madikizela Mandela He says it’s nothing but political populism “The whole process rigs of political populism in the sense that there should be public participation and then the authority should listen to the community We know that this will cost a lot of money to taxpayers and it affected different spheres of government and that municipality does have that money.” The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), however, supports the renaming. But as for basic service delivery the party’s chairperson in the Free  State “We hope it is not only the electioneering machinery to convince the people of Brandfort to vote for them The people of Brandfort are still suffering They will have to make sure that they change the lives of the people of Brandfort completely The people of Brandfort deserve better because that town is named after Mama Winnie.”    Meanwhile, the ANC in the Free State says it stands by the community’s wish to see the name changed to Winnie Mandela.   Spokesperson for ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) Oupa Khoabane we agree with the people of Brandfort who want the name to be changed to Winnie Mandela We believe that those who are against that are those people who don’t want to see any change and who don’t want to identify themselves with the changing history we really support (the move) because it’s an issue that was demanded by the people of that place that Brandfort be changed to Winnie Mandela.”   The Department of Arts and Culture says all objections have been referred to the South African Geographical Names Council and Culture has told detractors and those opposed to changing the name of Brandfort in honour of the late ANC stalwart OFM News report whilst delivering her provincial budget speech told Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) that the new name is going nowhere and will remain such Her statement comes after unknown assailants defaced a board giving direction to the Winnie Mandela town  Mahasa says this needs to sink in as a historical mission was accomplished in honouring Winnie Madikizela-Mandela the Free State Provincial Government said it was disgusted by the defacing and vandalism of the newly erected Winnie Mandela town name board Premier Sisi Ntombela’s spokesperson told OFM News that this action seeks to defeat nation-building that points to the R703 route leading to Winnie Mandela town has been smeared by what appears to be paint part of the writing on the board has been scrubbed off “Concerning the ongoing restoration work at Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s House in Winnie Mandela town there will be an exhibition following it’s completion The house will be handed over to the province by the National Department of Sport The house will be accessible as a museum for the exploration of the life and times of this stalwart in this town,” Mahasa adds OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane A road sign depicting the name of Winnie Mandela has been defaced by angry residents of the town previously known as Brandfort Authorities say the town’s new name will be officially unveiled at a ceremony on Sunday Some residents of the town previously known as Brandfort are opposed to renaming it to Winnie Mandela They say the government must instead use the resources for service delivery in the area Many of the residents say they do not see the significance of the name change while they continue to suffer on a daily basis I’m ashamed to hear today that Brandfort has changed to Winnie Mandela People wake up and sort yourself out,” says one of the resident “Name change … it’s not fine but we know the ANC because they have the power and everything The very same ANC … we don’t have a clinic; we don’t have water or even electricity Why name change?” says another disgruntled resident EFF Provincial Secretary Bosanku Msimanga says they have been calling for the removal of apartheid names and for the name of Winnie Mandela to be acknowledged He says many of the towns in the Free State still bear colonial names “We are saying equally as we unveiled Mama Winnie we must equally couple that with service delivery These thugs of the ANC must take resources where they should be right where our people are in the township.” Free State ANC Interim Committee Spokesperson Oupa Khoabane says people are free to express their views on the renaming of places “Our understanding of those detractors who are against the renaming of that place it’s not surprising because even those during the 90’s they will instigate using racist slogans.” The DA’s Marieta Visser says the government has ignored objections raised by members of the community over the name change “The DA does not oppose the name change does not even have the courtesy to respond to the petition signed by more than 700 residents The ANC is arrogant by ignoring all the legislation and democratic processes.” The Freedom Front Plus has described the renaming of Brandfort as a political ploy by the ANC to hide their failure in providing services to the people “This is what people of Brandfort need: they need water; they need electricity; they need services; but clearly the ANC is not committed to service delivery The late struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was banished to the sprawling town in 1977 The house she lived in has been restored and converted to a museum in her honour This will happen as the Free State Government holds a provincial memorial service for her The house in which the struggle icon had lived for ten years while she was banished by the apartheid government has attracted much controversy as the project stands dilapidated and millions are unaccounted for This historic site had turned into a hub of criminal activities where community members allege it has become a house where teenagers smoked illegal substances and where young girls were raped it was discovered that more than R1,8 million of the R3 million that was allocated for the project had already been spent echoes Secretary General Ace Magashule words and says there is no corruption involved in the project and it will certainly materialise Meeko says the project can be expected to be completed by 2019 and more details in this regard will be revealed later today which will start at 14:00 at the Brandfort Community Hall “We dragged our feet on this matter and we owe the people of Brandfort an apology The fact that it has not been erected is a mistake,” Some residents of the Winnie Mandela town in the Free State, previously known as Brandfort, say the money used to refurbish the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Museum should have been spent on service delivery Some areas in the Majwemasweu Township have experienced severe water shortages for over a decade The multimillion-rand project has also been impacted by allegations of corruption Seven people including the former Free State Sports Arts and Culture head Tsoarelo Malakoane are out on bail for allegedly siphoning public funds “I don’t think there will still be a service delivery to our community there is no electricity for more than 11 years “We are not happy at all about the situation of the museum because we don’t have access to enter,” another resident explains “We are not happy as a community just because it’s been long they are promising us but there’s been nothing happening to the location,” a resident reiterates Home | Lifestyle The Arts and Culture Department says it will do everything possible to recover money lost in the planning of the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Museum project in Brandftort The department is taking the legal route against the Independent Development Trust (IDT) which has been accused of failing to meet set requirements The iconic House 802 in Majwemasweu township in Brandfort was declared a national heritage site in 2005 was banished by the Apartheid regime in 1977 Madikizela-Mandela lived here with her youngest daughter the department’s Deputy Director-General says they have injected almost R3 million in the project “We tried to do the work here when we were working with IDT Out of the money that we have given to IDT what they claim to have done is to spend four hundred and ninety something on professional services concept design and all those kinds of things matters between ourselves and IDT are still being discussed These matters are being dealt with in courts I cannot divulge most of the things that are happening there All that I can tell you is that as the department we are not happy with the kind of work that was done hence we had to stop our working relationship with IDT.” New contractors have been appointed to restore the house at a cost of almost R3 million The community say the revamping is long overdue “We are not happy about them coming here hanging plans and then at the end of the day there’s no progress,” says one community member The latest promise is that this house will be restored and ready to tell its history to young South Africans by November