Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries the Premier Skills programme has trained over 700 teachers and coaches across 25 districts and five Let’s Play Centres of Sporting Excellence (LPCOSE) backed by SuperSport’s Let’s Play initiative provide state-of-the-art multipurpose sports fields encouraging structured physical education in schools and communities The programme has already made a difference in seven provinces: Eastern Cape by offering young athletes the opportunity to develop their sporting skills while promoting a culture of active living The impact of the Premier Skills programme extends far beyond teacher training Educators who have completed the course have gone on to organise large-scale community sports events including the Let’s Play Fun Run and the Modified Hockey Heritage Day Festival which collectively attracted over 6,000 participants These events highlight the significance of physical activity in education and help bridge the gap between sports and youth development At the Motswela Secondary School training session teachers gained first-hand experience in structuring engaging physical education sessions “The past few days have been amazing but this training has changed my perspective,” said Lebohang Khaoue The training week concluded with a vibrant festival where teachers showcased their newly acquired skills in real-time engaging with over 100 learners in various sporting activities “This festival is about putting knowledge into practice The teachers are now confident in leading physical education sessions that make a real difference in learners’ lives,” said Nowanda Mashabane The programmes goals are to be more than just a workshop By equipping educators with structured training methodologies it ensures that physical education remains a cornerstone of youth development “We are very grateful for this opportunity The training has given us practical skills that we can implement across multiple sports and volleyball,” said another participant the British Council and Premier League have trained more than 3,500 educators and coaches across six provinces Together with MultiChoice’s SuperSport Let’s Play these initiatives are setting the foundation for a healthier As Motswela Secondary School joins the growing network of institutions empowered by Premier Skills the ripple effect of this initiative will be felt for years to come – on the sports field To find out more, visit www.multichoice.com Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or swiping left Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or the keyboard right arrow key The N1 highway between Kroonstad and Ventersburg is currently closed following an accident involving a truck transporting hazardous materials The closure extends from Kroonstad to Winburg to ensure public safety A truck carrying hazardous substances overturned releasing a gas-like odour into the environment working diligently to manage the situation and mitigate any potential risks to the public The road is expected to remain closed for at least six hours Authorities will provide further updates as more information becomes available Motorists are advised to use the following alternative routes to bypass the affected area: • Take the R30 detour after Bloemfontein through Brandfort Motorists are urged to exercise caution when driving in the vicinity and to adhere strictly to instructions from emergency personnel and law enforcement agencies Approaching the accident scene is highly discouraged as the hazardous materials involved may pose a risk of explosion has expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and appreciates the public’s understanding as efforts are made to prioritise safety This incident is reminiscent of a previous event on 25 December 2024 when a truck carrying explosives caught fire on the N1 near Kroonstad after a multi-vehicle collision The road was temporarily closed during that incident to allow emergency services to manage the situation safely.  Motorists are encouraged to stay updated through official channels and to plan their routes accordingly to ensure safety and minimise travel disruptions 🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 100 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “Mbalula: Budget Disagreements Won’t Derail GNU https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Central-News-Issue-100.pdf https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content,  Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc. We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment. To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. JOHANNESBURG - A truck carrying explosives has caught fire on the N1 freeway towards the Free State after being involved in a multi-vehicle crash.  Officials say the accident occurred near Kroonstad and the road has been closed to traffic due to the explosives in the truck. However, it is understood that they are unable to approach the truck to extinguish the fire due to the likelihood of the truck exploding.  Sections Home | Uncategorized Free State Emergency Services says a truck carrying explosives is on fire on the N1 – 10 km north of Kroonstad Three people have sustained minor injuries and there are also multiple light motor vehicles involved Spokesperson Sipho Towa says fire services and other emergency services are on the scene and everyone has been evacuated to make sure the explosives are extinguished properly Traffic is being diverted from Kroonstad to the R721 Vredefort and from Koppies to the R82 Rooiwal A truck carrying “explosives” on fire on N1 10km N of KROONSTAD Fire Services and other emergency services on scene Traffic Diverted from KROONSTAD to R721 Vredefort From Koppies to R82, Rooiwal, Heuningspruit back to N1 KROONSTAD.@Thibos_Mokone @LesediFM @_ArriveAlive — Sipho Towa (@SiphoTowa) December 25, 2024 The road is closed due to explosives in the truck — Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 25, 2024 The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Moqhaka Local Municipality demands immediate action regarding the ongoing mismanagement of the Maokeng/Kroonstad Landfill site Despite multiple reports and raising this issue at the Portfolio Committee level in the municipality Residents of Ward 10 in LTA and Relebohile have endured these conditions for nearly 20 years The Relebohile informal settlement is located just 500 to 900 metres from the landfill site comprising a majority of unemployed individuals is severely impacted by the foul odour emanating from the site The continuous inhalation of fumes from the landfill poses significant health risks and exposure to high concentrations of harmful substances These conditions can lead to respiratory issues such as bronchitis The municipality has failed in its duty to ensure residents of Ward 10 their right to a healthy environment The DA strongly condemns the municipality’s negligence and believes that the dignity and health of our people must be protected We call on the municipality to take immediate and concrete steps to address the landfill site issue steps such as conducting regular air quality monitoring implementing proper waste management practices and providing adequate resources for affected residents Failure to take action will only exacerbate the already dire situation and further endanger the well-being of our community registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO a truck transporting explosives caught fire on the N1 highway approximately 10 kilometres north of Kroonstad in the Free State The incident involved multiple light motor vehicles and resulted in three individuals sustaining minor injuries Free State Emergency Services spokesperson reported that fire services and other emergency responders promptly arrived at the scene all individuals in the vicinity were evacuated allowing specialists to manage and extinguish the explosives safely Due to the hazardous nature of the incident authorities have implemented traffic diversions:• From Kroonstad: Traffic is being redirected to the R721 towards Vredefort.• From Koppies: Vehicles are diverted to the R82 through Rooiwal and Heuningspruit the situation is being handled with utmost caution Emergency services are working diligently to secure the area and prevent any further incidents The public is urged to avoid the affected section of the N1 and to follow updates from official channels for information on when the route will be safe for travel Authorities have commenced an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and to assess the extent of the damage Further details will be provided as the situation develops This incident follows a series of accidents on the N1 in the Free State region a tragic collision between a minibus taxi and a truck near Kroonstad resulted in ten fatalities The accident occurred approximately 20 kilometres from Koppies towards Kroonstad Investigations into the cause of that crash are ongoing 🔴Central News Weekly Edition 087🔴 Download the Latest Edition | Top Story: “Building ‘The Ngwathe We Want’:Dr Mothamaha Drives Cost-EffectiveSolutions with New Fleet Acquisitions” Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc. For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za MEC for the Department of Community Safety is set to launch the 2025 Free State Easter Road Safety Campaign this Friday According to MEC Communication Officer Mampone Mohloki this initiative is a joint effort between the department the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) With Easter being a peak travel season in South Africa the campaign aims to promote safer driving habits and cut down on road crashes and deaths ensuring families can enjoy the holiday safely Easter is a time of celebration and travel in South Africa but it’s also a period when roads become dangerously busy The Free State Department of Community Safety Roads and Transport is stepping up efforts to tackle this challenge head-on Ms Mohloki explained that the 2025 campaign is all about educating drivers and pedestrians on how to use the roads responsibly “We want everyone to get home safely,” she said “This launch is a big step towards reducing the crashes and fatalities we see every Easter.”The N1 in Kroonstad a key route for holidaymakers heading across the province and beyond Partnering with trusted organisations like the AA the department is bringing a mix of hands-on activities and expert advice to the table It’s not just talk – it’s about giving road users real tools to stay safe One of the campaign’s standout features is its push for community involvement Travellers are encouraged to share their safe arrival stories using the hashtag #GotHomeSafe “It’s a way to let your loved ones know you’re okay and inspire others to travel responsibly,” Ms Mohloki said you’re not just celebrating your journey – you’re helping spread the word about roadQuestion safety Address: by Bantu Holomisa at a UDM Elections Rally Community Hall, Seeisoville, Kroonstad The reason I mention this, is to prove to the doubting thomases that the UDM does not only exist in the Eastern Cape – we indeed have a national footprint. To all of you, I say “thank you” for welcoming the UDM in your midst. It is heartening to see so many citizens who share the ideal of transforming South Africa into a Winning Nation. We can no longer beat around the bush… it is a fact that corruption destroys the gains of our freedom. Simple. Once voters recognise the direct link between These people seem to live in a parallel universe where the poor can be ignored or made fools of. What we witnessed, when Youth League bash in Thembisa on 22 February, it was quite astounding to see their Mini Cooper and big bike brigade in action. If one considers, for example, that a 2014 Harley Davidson VRod Muscle motorcycle costs nearly R220,00 and that an entry level Mini Cooper sell at around R300,00, it gives one some perspective of what the future holds should they become the next generation of leaders in the African National Congress (ANC). This lurid and garish display of their fat wallets was totally discordant with what the ANC states as its priorities. Instead it just rubs salt in the wounds of the poor and jobless masses. On a side note, one cannot help but wonder where do they get the money to maintain their lavish lifestyles. Therefore, when you have your ballot papers in in hand, ask yourself this: “Do I want to again place my trust in a party that have made a total mockery of their promise to better the lives of our people. We don’t call it the breadbasket of our country for mahala. The UDM believes that more opportunities should be created for emerging farmers and that they should be equipped with the right knowledge, skills, tools and infrastructure to make a make a commercial success of their farming activities. Aside from the obvious need to provide education and training to emerging farmers, a UDM government would establish a sectoral bank where they can apply for financing. A UDM government will introduce special units specifically involved in rural safety through the deployment of reserve forces and other government security agencies to provide safety and enhance border control to curb stock-theft and smuggling. A UDM government will streamline the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to speed up the processes and restore land to their rightful owners, because the delays causes uncertainty and tension. A UDM government shall make mining one of the major points of discussion at the Economic Indaba that the UDM has long advocated for. Every now and again this cauldron boils over. There are far too many incidents where white students humiliated and physically attacked black students. I do however think that the incident that shocked the nation to its core, was what happened when the so-called ‘Reitz Four” debased the dignity of some of the university’s staff to the point where I feel uncomfortable to describe what the victims had to endure. The UDM is of the view that there must be harsher punishment for South Africans who make themselves guilty of hate crime in the hope that it will prevent future incidents. On the 7th of May, the people will have an opportunity to bring change to South Africa and the only way this can be successful is that voters much punish the ANC for their failures. To the UDM teams who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success, thank you for your hard work. Seven (7) May is right around the corner and we have to work tirelessly to persuade our fellow South Africans that the UDM is a viable alternative. The United Democratic Movement was launched at the World Trade Centre, in Kempton Park, on 27 September 1997. Bantu Holomisa was elected the party’s first president at its first national congress in June 1998. JOHANNESBURG - Thirteen people have lost their lives in two horrific crashes in the Free State. In the first tragedy, 10 people were killed when a taxi collided with a truck on the N1, South of Koppies, towards Kroonstad on Sunday morning. A truck driver and taxi passenger survived the crash and were rushed to a nearby hospital. In the second incident, three people, including a nine-year-old child, died on Saturday night when two bakkies collided on the R30 between Allanridge and Odendaalsrus. The cause of both accidents remains unclear and authorities are now investigating. The Lace Diamond Mine (LDM) is located near the town of Kroonstad The mine lies about 200km south-west of the capital city The remaining 26% is held by Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Partners which include Sphere Investments and Shanduka Resources the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa agreed to contribute $33.6m towards the development of the mine The IDC funding is used for the underground development of the 47-level block cave at the Lace Mine The development began in January 2013 with an estimated investment of $50m The mine is expected to have a life of more than 25 years In November 2020, DiamondCorp suspended operations at the Lace Diamond Mine for two weeks due to flooding by heavy rainfall Its mineralisation consists of a diamondiferous kimberlite pipe built to a depth of 240m The first mining operations were started in 1901 and it was operated until 1931 It became obsolete with the Great Depression and the fall of diamond prices in 1930 Open-pit methods to a depth of 100m were initially used to recover the mineral The 240m level underground chamber was built subsequently The mine was developed with a vertical shaft and development drives by 1930 About 4.5 million tons (Mt) of kimberlite was processed during this period. The mine is reported to have produced about 750,000ct of diamonds at an average grade of 16 carats per hundred tons (cpht). It produced diamonds ranging from one carat to 122ct The mine remained closed even after being acquired by De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1940 With the changes in mining policies in South Africa The Lace pit and shaft were dewatered for development in 2008 A 220tph kimberlite dump re-treatment plant was supplied by Consulmet A 1.2Mtpa diamond separation plant was opened at the mine site in 2007 It started sampling the kimberlite tailings and bulk samples from a declining level of 4.5m x 4.5m The current mine treatment plant has a capacity of 1.2Mt The Lace Diamond Mine has two types of kimberlite mineralisation The upper volcanoclastic kimberlite (VK) level has an average grade of 24cpht while the deeper coherent kimberlite facies (CK) averages about 55cpht grade Sampling tests of the kimberlite at 240m depth confirmed the mine’s feasibility for development in October 2011 The mineral resources have been identified along the kimberlite pipe up to depths of 855m the Upper K4 mine block of the project is estimated to hold total probable reserves of 2.21Mt The total resource estimate of Lace Mine stands at 38.69Mt grading at 0.244cpt for 9.38Mct (million carats) DiamondCorp also has prospecting rights of two adjoining properties The mining rights of Lace were granted to DiamondCorp in February 2009 SRK Consulting completed an independent engineering report with estimated resources and development plans in March 2012 The independent engineering report suggests the development of a block cave at a 470m depth A continuous trough block cave is an economical and safer option for mining It will include a conveyor decline for materials and worker transport running in parallel The rim tunnel at the production level will have load-haul-dumps (LHD) for loading the trucks The mine consists of a 350m level vertical shaft The mine has an adequate supply of water for processing and electricity supply from the Eskom grid DiamondCorp processed 308,047t of tailings to recover 18,534ct of diamonds at an average grade of 5.96cpht by December 2014 Initial production began in January 2013 at a rate of 30,000ct Future development of deeper block caves is expected to produce 500,000ct/y Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Crumbling infrastructure is hampering patient care at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad We first visited the hospital two weeks ago. Buckets have been set out on the floors of some wards and theatre rooms to catch water leaking from broken ceilings.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads An extension of the hospital building and upgrades started in 2010 who spoke to GroundUp on condition of anonymity said conditions at the hospital are deteriorating nurses and other staff downed tools over the poor condition of the hospital They also demanded to be paid for overtime Most staff resumed their duties on Monday night pending further negotiations with management on 17 February Boitumelo is the only regional hospital in the Fezile Dabi District and caters for patients from about 19 surrounding towns The hospital has six theatres but we were told of at least 80 patients whose surgeries had to be rescheduled between October and December 2022 Visit Daily Maverick’s home page for more news “I’ve been going to the hospital for surgery since 2018 … They keep postponing,” said Langelihle Makhoba “I was scheduled for a gallstone removal on 19 January 2023 Hospital CEO Sibongile Mthimkhulu referred our questions to the Free State Department of Health.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads responded to our questions with a screengrab from a memo sent by Mthimkhulu which details progress made on infrastructure repairs The memo stated that ceiling panels had been replaced and two theatres had been painted But when we visited the hospital again on 6 February ceiling panels were still broken and we were told that some of the theatres were not yet fully functional First published by GroundUp ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " The Free State farming town of Kroonstad does not have a beach heated swimming pool and water slides for the children is the closest it gets to a beach in this town in central South Africa Most South Africans probably know Kroonstad through the Shell Ultra City filling station next to the N1 highway on the way to Cape Town when you search for Three Anchor Bay in Cape Town lush green lawns and Table Mountain appear that Willem Breytenbach spent the prime of his adult life - what now appears to be an undeniable fact - as a sexual predator and got away with it Until a man called Deon Wiggett stopped him in his tracks in November 2019 But this story begins in Kroonstad and ends in Three Anchor Bay has forced the country to pause and talk about sexual abuse in our classrooms South Africa is a country plagued with sexual abuse We report on it daily and the crime stats tell a sordid story But it is not often that stories of sexual predators in corporate South Africa make it onto the front page And one question remains: "How did he get away with it for 40 years?" we simply have to confront and discuss this uncomfortable topic we must go back to Hoër Landbouskool Kroonstad in 1978 an agricultural high school where Breytenbach started his high school career To track Breytenbach's life may give us some clues into the anatomy of a serial abuser was the feared principal of the school which Breytenbach and his brother attended as the school is colloquially known among its alumni Breytenbach was born in 1964 and matriculated from "Lanties" in 1982 The most relevant yearbook available on the school's Facebook page is that of 1981 when Breytenbach was in Standard 9 (now Grade 11) He is bespectacled and physically larger than most of the other children his age He looks like the class nerd; his hair cut in an old-fashioned Breytenbach was an over-achiever at school His name features frequently under top students for activities like debating he was one of two "Lanties" chosen to represent the school at a national Christian camp in Maselspoort another Free State town with a holiday resort and water slides on the Lantie newspaper's editorial photo at the Hoër Landbouskool Kroonstad But there appears to have been a dark side to him - and his father the strict disciplinarian - that the yearbook does not mention After Wiggett named Breytenbach in his podcast last week former fellow students took to the school's Facebook page to share their memories of him and his father Some claimed Breytenbach was caught in the act at high school The boys were threatened by his father and the head of the school residence not to say anything The details of exactly what happened is unclear but what seems clear is that Breytenbach already had a secret in Kroonstad Former pupils remember his father as strict and aggressive "He would slap us through the face," claimed one former pupil on Facebook Breytenbach snr was a "man's man" and most probably did not approve of his son's chosen activities Breytenbach was seemingly not good at sport He features in only one sports picture: that of the fourth rugby team The Breytenbachs back then were conservative God-fearing people who did not approve of their son's homosexuality told News24 this week he (Breytenbach) said to them that he received controversial conversion therapy as a child - electric shocks to the testicles of gay men to "cure" them of homosexuality where he enrolled for a degree in theology former pupils claimed they convinced the university not to let him become a dominee (reverend) Breytenbach changed his studies to become a teacher From listening to Wiggett's podcast and speaking to 16 sources who knew or worked with Breytenbach this week a picture emerges of a man who believed he was untouchable and used his professional power to coerce young boys and men into sexual traps He had a bag full of tricks: the gift of the gab; promises that he would make or break your career; his "amazing massages" that he used to entrap boys from his days as a teacher larger than life persona that would explode when he did not get his way by the parents of children he abused and by his bosses called him "the most compassionate boss I have ever worked for" She was shocked to hear Wiggett's podcast and all the subsequent revelations of a meticulous sexual predator at work Many of the sources we interviewed this week were once Breytenbach's favourites His compliments to his targets ranged from "You are the best journalist that Media24 has ever seen" and "you will change the future of media in the world" to "you are the cleverest person in this business" and predictably after moving into the commercial side of the business Breytenbach built an "empire of young boys" around him at Die Burger's marketing department When you resisted his overtures - or were a woman - you were shouted at and threatened that he would end your career "Some of us went to vomit before work from stress while others had to see psychologists because of Willem," former colleagues from his days at Die Burger said Our sources say his modus operandi stayed the same: he would become "friends" with the young men he appointed (some of them were fresh out of school without any tertiary qualifications) and promote them over more experienced colleagues The same happened at Lumico and Lightspeed Digital Media "Lines became completely blurred … he encouraged internal competition and play us against each other." We heard this line a few times Another trick: "Willem would dare us to get some of the other guys in bed especially some who said they were straight He would always talk about their large penises Breytenbach's legendary bad temper alienated a number of his colleagues over the years He would change from a loveable caring boss into a screaming shouting monster with saliva flying from his mouth in seconds We heard numerous accounts of boardroom tables being slammed with his fists and pieces of office furniture flying through the air The words "I was scared of him" are repeated over and over again at a strategy session at Goudini Spa near Rawsonville for the magazine division's advertising team Breytenbach once "almost assaulted" a senior advertising manager and instructed him to stop talking because he was challenging Breytenbach in front of his colleagues Breytenbach ended up in the swimming pool with his young At Lumico and later Lightspeed Digital Media Breytenbach continued to intimidate his staff into silence and he is walking up and intimidating young guys I saw him intimidate grown men and leave them crying in the middle of the boardroom He treated his staff like absolute shit," claimed a former employee "I was having four- to five-hour fights with him on a daily basis just on the way he was treating people He was threatening to out gay guys to their parents who don't know whether in a sexual way or something for business." Breytenbach became a valuable asset for upcoming Afrikaans artists and music promotors and there are hundreds of rumours about how and what he did to promote the careers of good looking "Especially during the period in which he was head of the magazine division [Breytenbach was the publisher of Media24's weekly magazines he controlled large amounts of sponsorships aimed at the Afrikaans music and entertainment industry," said an inside source who requested anonymity this week "He used his influence and power over artists and event organisers to such an extent that he was seen and feared as some 'God' that could make or break people Dig deep enough and you'll find a number of young male Afrikaans commercial singers who were lured with promises of record deals and stardom and treated to nights in jacuzzis at expensive hotels all to get them into a net," claimed the source entertainment and media industry were indeed aware - if not of actual abuse then of the continued rumours and suspicions More than one artist got their breaks thanks to submitting to Willem Breytenbach The jacuzzi story is notorious in the industry; during one of the Huisgenoot Skouspel events (a music concert at Sun City) he helped to organise Breytenbach landed himself the presidential suite of The Palace five-star hotel and ended up with a "harem" of scantily clad young men in the jacuzzi A former human resources practitioner at Media24 admitted they were aware of Breytenbach's bullying and intimidation of staff and questioned the fact that he mostly appointed young But he could not act "because I knew I would end up in trouble … I was warned After initially saying the company had not found any record of complaints against Breytenbach in its records Media24 CEO Ishmet Davidson last week asked employees to come forward with evidence after new information emerged.  Current and former employees have since provided documentation and testimony to the company.  Breytenbach is holed up at his mother's house in Reebok outside Mossel Bay where he fled after Wiggett's podcast premiered on News24 in early November The police are at an advanced stage of their investigation into him.  Breytenbach has previously refused to comment on any of the allegations against him was published in partnership with News24:  MY ONLY STORY | A podcast series and live investigation into a sexual predator Swaar straf gevra nadat jong kinders doodbrand Family of abandoned North West baby sought North West scholar transport operators will finally receive payments Vrystaatse ouerpaar in hof ná kinders doodbrand Besoekers sprakeloos oor skouspelagtige Augrabies 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 with a constantly growing interest in the brand a year after it opened its doors in the Northern Free State town Dealer Principal of the Williams Hunt division of CFAO Mobility in Kroonstad CFAO Mobility’s product offering in Kroonstad also includes Toyota and Volkswagen in separate divisions “We had space available and transformed it to accommodate Suzuki Kroonstad is centred in an important agricultural part in the country with Isuzu one of the big players in this sector “Suzuki’s vehicle range is popular and has found favour with a number of different people in this region like to buy Suzuki’s for their children as student vehicles while our commercial Super Carry bakkies and Eeco panel van is popular with smaller businesses in town The complete Suzuki range itself has found wide acceptance across the board,” Nico tells Dealerfloor He says they service a number of smaller towns in the area like Steynsrus we make use of livestock auctions and other agricultural events to showcase the Isuzu-bakkies “Roads to certain towns and even in Kroonstad remain a challenge We are part of a bigger process in Kroonstad itself to assist in maintaining the town as we all live and work here,” says Nico who has been at the Williams Hunt dealership since 2000 in different capacities.” He is in the “hot chair” as DP for both Suzuki and Isuzu since February 2021 and he also acts as new and used vehicle sales managers “We are in a constantly changing environment in the automotive sector and in general doing business in the country Change sometimes brings uncertainty and therefore resistance keep them motivated and to ensure we deliver the best customer service possible,” Nico says “Rendering first-class customer service means you retain customers It is important through the complete value chain from when a customer buys a car to servicing and buying spares from us and it’s part of our success I believe,” Nico concludes The 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb was characterised by difficult emotions mixed with brave competition at the highest level during the King of the Hill challenge but the latest generation of Chinese bakkies is here to stay The dubious first generation bakkies from China did not draw a lot of attention from the South African car-buying consumer either as a leisure or commercial alternative Well-known South African racing driver and competitor at the annual Simola Hillclimb died this weekend when his Lotus left the road The transition from a career in the OEM environment to the business at dealership level was like chalk and cheese Audi Centre Sandton was named 2024 Dealer of the Year while Hatfield Motor Group walked away with the coveted 2024 Dealer Group of the Year prize during Audi South Africa’s annual Vorsprung Awards For a dealership to make an 180-degree U-turn within two years and then went on to win the overall Volkswagen Dealer of the Year award This dealer-focussed innovation is made possible with the support and endorsement of Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance All content copyright of Panthera Media Pty Ltd 2020 We use cookies to personalise content and ads and to analyse our traffic and improve our service You consent to cookies if you continue to use our website Home | South Africa A 50-year-old man has lost his life due to heavy downpours in Maokeng including most parts of the Free State have experienced torrential rains over the past few days An estimated 150-millimetre rain has been received across the province The Weather Services has issued a warning for more rains The 50-year-old Motaung Mokemane’s vehicle was swept away by rainwater at a low bridge His body was discovered in the morning by community members It has affected us a lot especially my mother here she is not feeling well but the whole family is affected,” says sister of the deceased Motshewa Mokemane Residents have been warned to stay indoors Moqhaka Local Municipality is assessing the extent of the damage “We are busy assessing the damage but we can safely say about 80 households have been affected We have not yet evacuated them because the need has not yet raised But the other thing that we have done is to identify local places where we can place them in case such happens,” says Mayor Motloheloa Mokatsane Misleading information on social media networks has been discouraged “People who are sending wrong and misleading information on the social media network Some videos that we have seen that are claimed to be from Kroonstad I’m from all the bridges and that some of them on the social network are not from Kroonstad,” says MEC of Cooperative Governance Ketso Makume The forecast is that rain will continue for the next few days Maokeng Mall is set to open in November next year bringing modern retail into the very heart of the local community for the first time Kroonstad is situated over 200 km north of Bloemfontein with a rich agricultural area bordering the N1 it cannot provide the convenience and sense of community which the new mall plans to offer Maokeng’s township Retail Network Services is driving the Maokeng development with the aim of containing the current outflow of Maokeng residents to the Kroonstad CBD and as far afield as Welkom for certain higher order purchases The first phase 14 000 square meter mall will be a one-stop shopping destination for more than 21 000 households clustered in Koekoe Village Fernridge Consulting was commissioned by GMI to undertake a detailed study of the proposed site and the surrounding areas with a view to ascertaining what level of retail was needed and could be successfully supported by Maokeng consumers The selected location of the mall on Smaldeel Road (which runs directly through the township) is a strong one This will ensure easy access to convenient retail for the more than 80 000 residents – many of who are below the age of forty A strong line-up of national retailers has been confirmed to anchor the single-level centre with Shoprite heading up the supermarket offering supported by a bouquet of national fashion retailers including Ackermans Jet and PEP with convenient ATM services available Cashbuild will provide a superbly positioned service to home builders and improvers small farmers and traders living or working within the area With fifty-three shops and food outlets as well as select office space all supported by more than six hundred parking bays Maokeng Mall is set to bring excitement and value into the very heart of the community ActionSA and Kroonstad Concerned Citizens will now approach the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) requesting them to investigate Moqhaka Municipality for contravening Section 151 of the National Water Act This comes after being let down by the justice system that has postponed the case on numerous occasions This time the postponement was due to the Defence Advocate not being able to attend today’s hearing Giving a feeble reason that he only arrived back in South Africa yesterday He personally requested the postponement of the case to 11-13 October 2023 to enable him to bring in a professional engineer to concur if the Carel Combrink Report was accurate The expectation was that he would meet with Mr Combrink during the last 5 months between May and October 2023 Kroonstad Concerned Citizens together with ActionSA notes that this dilatory action is not acceptable considering that the case has been postponed more than 12 times in 19 months because of Mr He even tried to get the case struck off the roll two occasions specifically on 17 & 21 February 2023 The Magistrate granted the postponement on certain conditions ActionSA and Kroonstad Concerned Residents will now approach the SAHRC to request them to investigate Moqhaka Municipality for contravening Section 151 of the National Water Act of 1998  which stipulates that any water services authority that becomes aware of a spillage of sewage or effluent must take immediate steps to stop the spillage and clean up the affected area The Department of Water and Sanitation has issued guidelines that recommend that sewage spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of public health hazards and environmental pollution Moqhaka should be held accountable for the raw sewage that is being pumped from the local pump stations into the Vals and Vaal River contaminating water therefore placing people’s lives in danger We also appeal to the South African Justice System to recognize the urgency in the above matter and act accordingly The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and have led to a shortage of stock on some models For Raymond Garside and his team at Oranje Toyota Kroonstad this means that you must double down on your customer relations and your communication with current and prospective buyers “We must foster an even closer and stronger relationship with customers tell customers when they can take delivery of their new vehicle owing to these pandemic-related disruptions “Our focus now is managing the expectations of customers in such a way that they feel informed important and acknowledged during this process.” Raymond is the new Dealer Principal at Oranje Toyota Kroonstad a position he filled in December last year He says that the stock delays are especially acute on high-end vehicles where the long list of specifications makes them more vulnerable to parts delays from a larger group of suppliers He says they do their utmost to keep customers happy “Kroonstad and the surrounding region are central in the farming heartland of the country and farmers make up the bulk of our business We also attract a lot of business from state institutions like the large prison in town and from other entities such as the municipality,” he says doing business in rural Free State is quite different from Johannesburg In his last position as Sales Manager at Pat Hinde Toyota in Springs on the East Rand he and the dealership itself were finalists in the Manager of the Year and Dealership of the Year categories for 2019 “Doing business here differs a lot from Johannesburg sharing a cup of coffee and shaking hands (or bumping elbows these days) are part of the business etiquette be completed electronically in full and you don’t necessarily get to meet the new owner in person when the vehicle is delivered,” he says “One thing customers have in common is that they know exactly what they want and a sales executive could perhaps change their mind about a colour or spec but not easily about the model range they have selected,” he tells Dealerfloor So what is his short-term vision in his new position in Kroonstad “We are just surviving and sustaining for now with all the uncertainty once we see the pandemic in the rear view-mirror I would like to expand the business in Kroonstad I firmly believe that we can double our output here.” “It does not necessarily mean expanding the premises as the business today does not require more floorspace with predetermined sales and deliveries I definitely believe Kroonstad has growth potential and the agriculture sector is doing very well,” he says Raymond took over the reins in Kroonstad during December last year He spent the last 25 years in the motor trade and has been with different Toyota dealers in the group since 2009 Asked about what he does in his spare time he says at this stage a lot of travelling every weekend between Kroonstad and Springs where his wife and two daughters are still living until the girls complete their studies Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous You consent to cookies if you continue to use our website.