Home | South Africa The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is probing a death in police custody This after a 43-year-old man shot and killed himself in a police charge office at Ventersburg police station on Monday The man was arrested at a tavern in Winburg over the weekend after his wife reported a case of kidnapping and rape against him the deceased forced her out of her house into a vehicle at gunpoint The deceased reportedly went back inside the house and returned to the car where he drove to an unknown location where she was raped The woman managed to escape to the Ventersburg police station She then requested police to be sent to her house to look for her daughter The little girl was found dead with multiple stab wounds 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 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 and website in this browser for the next time I comment The cold winter weather in the Free State has been causing delays on the construction of a 24-kilometre section of the N1 from Ventersburg to Holfontein said the cold weather was interfering with the sealing of the road surface with bitumen Construction work is expected to be completed by November 2019 involves the upgrade of this section of the N1 from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway and includes the building of five bridge structures 11 in-situ culverts and a number of precast culverts Brooks said it was cheaper to build a new carriageway than to add extra lanes to the existing road The project also includes a bridge which serves as an interchange between Holfontein and Ventersburg Bridge 322 connects two former gravel roads one travelling east and the other west to Ventersburg The road was dropped so that the N1 travels under the bridge Brooks said in an effort to reduce the cost of materials decrease the damage caused to roads by heavy vehicles hauling construction material and save time SANRAL dug a quarry to supply stone for the upgrade The site will be fully rehabilitated in strict accordance with the approved Environmental Management Plan upon completion of crushing activities and with limited to no visibility from the N1 Various local species of trees will also be planted to promote full rehabilitation of the quarry In total R92m has been invested in and earned by targeted enterprises The upgrading of two traffic control centres at Senekal and Kroonstad by SANRAL in partnership with the Free State Department of Police Roads and Transport will help curb extensive overloading of trucks which has resulted in a marked deterioration of the provincial road network Overloading not only causes serious damage but also contributes to the problem of maintaining road safety especially because the vehicle’s braking system is put under strain and additional braking distance is required The Senekal Traffic Control Centre has been upgraded to a more technologicallyadvanced weighbridge Illegally loaded vehicles are identified through weigh-inmotion equipment installed on the N5 Vehicles are then diverted to be weighed on static scales at the traffic control centre for mass certification and Damage to roads as a result of overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the life of a road which in turn places an additional burden on the state as well as lawabiding road users who ultimately must carry the costs of careless and inconsiderate overloading The upgrading of the Senekal and Kroonstad Traffic Control Centres is part of SANRAL’s commitment to address the problem of vehicle overloading The Kroonstad Traffic Control Centre on the N1 has been upgraded with the installation of state-of-the-art weighing equipment This facility will provide roadworthy testing of vehicles and prosecution for those that are found to be on the wrong side of the law which is a strategic route as it carries cargo from the ports in Cape Town Port Elizabeth and East London to various parts of the country’s inland areas overloading has caused deterioration of the road infrastructure SANRAL Eastern Region Project Manager: Design & Construction said a stern warning is issued to motorists violating the rules of the road “The freight industry and motorists generally are warned to keep within the confines of the law or face the music should they be found to be on the wrong side “SANRAL is doing its best to provide a safe and well-maintained road network for the country’s socio-economic wellbeing and it is for every road-user to ensure that road assets are kept in good condition.” BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS Home | Cholera outbreak Residents of Ventersburg in the Matjhabeng municipality are up in arms demanding water to flow from their taps They says that they have been without water for two weeks They are now forced to walk long distances to fetch water from a nearby stream. Residents say they fear for their lives as cholera cases have been reported in the Free State Residents of Mamahabane in Ventersburg are faced with a dire situation after having no potable water for weeks Residents are not certain if the water is safe for human consumption especially with cholera cases detected in the province Many feel stripped of their dignity and human rights “Ever since the water has been closed here in Venter the mayor says residents here don’t pay for services Now we ask ourselves how are we going to pay for services we have not received.” Cholera claims one victim in Free State: Mondli Mvambi The community of Mamahabane recently went on a rampage to demonstrate their dissatisfaction residents have been having frequent water cuts and say they will fight until their demands are met what is worse is that when the water is opened you’ll find that some parts of the location have water while some don’t.” “We as parents struggle a lot when the children have to go to school and have to cook We are now forced to use wet wipes to save the little water we have.” The Matjhabeng Municipality owes the water board Bloem Water has set aside R50 million to improve the infrastructure The municipality says it will embark on Operation Patala in a bid to make residents pay for services says they have also written to Water and Sanitation Minister “We don’t have a budget to deal with those issues because the problem is not on our side The infrastructure that is having challenges is on the side of Bloem Water The challenge on our side is the payment of services.” the municipality has appointed a contractor to dig a borehole in the area but it’s unclear when a permanent solution will be found Home | ‘Diabetes evolving into a public health crisis in SA’ Police are investigating the cause of a bus crash on the R70 outside Ventersburg in the Free State Six learners were killed and four others seriously injured when the bus they were travelling in overturned on Tuesday The learners were travelling from an event in Moolmanshoek near Rosendal to Riebeeckstad in Welkom Emergency Medical Services Spokesperson Sipho Towa says the injured have been taken to various hospitals “Emergency Services were activated from an accident on R70 it’s the road that runs between Senekal and Ventersburg on arrival they found that it’s a scholar bus that had overturned six of the learners were declared dead on the scene 40 of the learners survived with minor injuries eight of them suffered moderate and four of them suffered severe injuries they’re currently fighting for their lives at the hospitals “The patients were transported to Mediclinic in Welkom and also two of them were transported to hospital in Senekal the emergency and law enforcement they’re on the scene busy with recovery clean-up,” Towa adds Authorities in the Free State have advised motorists on the N1 road near Ventersburg to be cautious Police spokesperson Mahlomola Kareli says the road was partially opened at midnight This after protesters blockaded the N1 and R70 roads with stones and debris on Monday Residents protested over water shortages in the area as some parts of town have been without water for weeks Three people have been arrested for public violence and are expected to appear in the local magistrate’s court soon six people were arrested for public violence in the Free State embarked on a protest action for two days A truck was also set alight on the N1 road which led to the route being closed from the side of Kroonstad to Bloemfontein. who had been protesting for two days over service delivery issues disputed allegations made by the Masilonyana Municipality that a meeting took place between the two parties This is after Municipal Spokesperson Zongezile Ntjwabule revealed that they met with residents who were illegally occupying the municipal land before VIDEO: Community members say the municipality has not been attending to their grievances: By Thys Khiba – South African Police Service spokesperson Lorraine Earle confirmed police officers have been sent to monitor and manage the scene of protesting residents of Ventersburg on Monday Both directions of N1 barricaded by protesters in Ventersburg. We’re stuck here. People protesting over water. SAPS keeps coming and going. No negotiator in sight. pic.twitter.com/IM4XFIA3uO Earle has indicated that the protest started in the morning and later reported as violent The busy N1 stretch via Kroonstad and Bloemfontein is currently affected by the service delivery protest This comes after affected residents demanded water shortages in the area to come to an end It is alleged that angry residents have been stoning the police.  Motorists are used to use alternative routes from Bloemfontein through Brandfort Toll Gate to join N1 to Kroonstad Photos by Cllr Tlake Rubben Khoarai on Facebook  DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0833989119 Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio A group of 58 pupils from Riebeeckstad High School in Welkom were returning from an outdoor sports event in the Moolmanshoek Nature Reserve near Ficksburg and Rosendal when tragedy struck It is believed that the driver of the bus transporting the schoolgirls lost control when a wheel loosened, causing the bus to overturn along the R70.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads According to the Free State provincial government six pupils were confirmed dead on the scene and four others suffered critical injuries Eight pupils sustained moderate injuries and 40 suffered minor injuries Passengers’ belongings strewn on the ground after the bus was righted in the aftermath of the Free State bus crash which killed six pupils The injured pupils were transported to various hospitals in Welkom Free State Emergency Services said 24 patients were admitted to Bongani Hospital One patient was transferred to Welkom Medi clinic while one remains at Bongani Hospital with serious but stable injuries A further 17 pupils were admitted to Medi Clinic in Welkom where 15 were later discharged and two remained admitted Itemoheng Hospital in Senekal admitted four pupils two of whom were transferred to Dihlabeng Hospital The emergency services said the death toll remained at six “For parents who are seeking information about their children, we urge you to go to Bongani Hospital and Medi Clinic where arrangements have been made to provide updates and support or call the grade head,” Riebeeckstad High School announced in a statement on Tuesday.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Emergency services attend to the scene of the Free State bus crash bus near Ventersburg Read more in Daily Maverick: Sixth child dies six weeks after horrific Mitchells Plain scholar transport crash On Wednesday morning, MEC for Education in the Free State Makalo Mohale said that his department was monitoring the progress of those admitted to hospital. Mohale also disclosed that the bus was not rented but belonged to the school. Investigations were yet to reveal the cause of the accident, and also other essential details regarding the crash. “Currently, we are just aware that it lost its wheel and overturned. That’s all we know,” Mohale said. “Police are investigating culpable homicide and it’s still too early to hold anyone liable until it has proven as such by the outcome of investigations,” Free State Saps’ Brigadier Motantsi Mokhele told Daily Maverick on Wednesday afternoon. DM But doesn’t “girl learners” sound stupid? What on Earth are “girl learners?” Are these boys learning to be girls? Or girls learning to be girls? Or leaners who want to be girls? The mind boggels. What happened to the good old “school girls?” What happened to “pupil”? Why must they be “learners”. OED definition of pupil, “a person who is taught by another, especially a schoolchild or student in relation to a teacher”. And THIS is your takeaway from this article? Your personal upset at the use of a descriptor was so important that you needed to say so right now? You are right: the mind “boggels”. I grew up in Ventersburg and recently visited people in the area again. Like most rural roads in the Free State, the R70 literally has more pot holes than actual tarred road. Even the section for veld next to the supposedly tarred road has pot holes. As such, I would be astounded if the poor road quality is not at least partially at blame here. Operating bus services is a specialised field and schools should not be allowed to operate and own buses. Very sad for these young girls to pass away when their life is just beginning. Prayers to their families and also for the injured to make a full recovery. Surely the bus driver would have felt the wobbling due to a loose wheel….or maybe not given the state of the road! Good was calling.May their souls rest in peace ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world 2022 at 6:36 AM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.Part of South Africa’s longest highway was shut on Monday by protesters who were demonstrating over water shortages a town that’s about 240 kilometers (149 miles) south of Johannesburg the South African Police Service said on Twitter Six children from Riebeeckstad High School in the Free State have died following a tragic incident on the R70 between Senekal and Ventersburg yesterday the Department of Education’s spokesperson said that six learners died on the scene when the bus they were travelling in overturned “A wheel became loose and the driver lost control of the bus They were on the way from an outdoor event in Moolmanshoek near Rosendal to Riebeeckstad in Welkom.” Although at least 40 schoolgirls were injured the exact number had not been officially confirmed at the time of publishing with contradictory information coming from the premier’s office and the department Minister Angie Motshekga has sent her condolences to the families of the girls who lost their lives “Our prayers are with the families and relatives of the deceased This is not the kind of news that any parent can expect when their children have gone out on a school excursion We hope that an investigation will shed light on what happened.” Premier Mxolisi Dukwana also conveyed condolences “The deaths of those souls have robbed us of the future of our province Words fail me and I can only imagine what the families are going through.” Unconfirmed reports suggest all the learners are in Grade Eight This morning, the school posted on its Facebook page: “The Riebies school community is shocked and heartbroken by the horrific bus accident that took place yesterday on the Ventersburg-Senekal road love and support go to the traumatised parents calmness and the love of God for our school departmental officials and councillors will visit us to address the school and lend support Thank you to everyone who supported us last night in any way.” Read original story on www.citizen.co.za SOUTH AFRICA: A head-on collision Friday near Ventersburg claimed five lives while five others were admitted to hospital in a critical condition Motorists were advised to use alternative routes as the police and emergency medical services were busy till late afternoon at the accident scene spokesperson for the police said a case of culpable homicide will be investigated a bus traveling to Zimbabwe and a bakkie traveling from Ventersburg to Bloemfontein collided on the N1 road near the Dampoort Crossing in the Ventersburg district,” said Thakeng “A male and female inside the bakkie were certified dead on the scene and three others inside the bus were also certified dead and five were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.” motorist on the scene the traffic piled up for a long time Motorists that were coming from Johannesburg had to use the Welkom road towards Bloemfontein while those traveling from Bloemfontein  had to use the R30 road (Brandfort/Theunissen road) towards Johannesburg New Zimbabwe.com Tweets by NewZimbabweCom NewZimbabwe.com – The Zimbabwe News You Trust is Zimbabwe’s leading online newspaper and published by New Zimbabwe Media Ltd The platform brings you the latest breaking News Diaspora and gives you everything you’ve come to expect and love Our Forums are vibrant and gives everyone a chance to be heard tablet smart phone or on our App its quick easy and free access all the news you love NewZimbabwe.com is updated continually with the latest news to help you feed your addiction with stories & photos from Zimbabwe and many more!