Free State
Free State is a province of South Africa, located in the centre of the country. The provincial capital is Bloemfontein, which also serves as the judicial capital of South Africa. The province is characterised by its vast agricultural lands, with maize farming and livestock production forming the backbone of its rural economy. Free State is also significant for its mining sector, particularly gold mining in the Goldfields region around Welkom, though this industry has declined from its historical peak. The province has emerged as an important location for renewable energy development, hosting numerous solar photovoltaic projects that contribute to South Africa's independent power producer programme. Its flat terrain and high solar irradiation levels make it well suited to large-scale solar installations. Other economic activities include manufacturing, particularly in Bloemfontein and the industrial centres of Sasolburg and Harrismith. The province shares borders with six other provinces and with Lesotho, an independent mountain kingdom entirely surrounded by South African territory. Free State was known as the Orange Free State until 1995, when it was renamed following the end of apartheid.
Free State Updates
DA lays criminal charges against 10 ‘worst’ municipal managers 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 13th August 2026 The DA announced on Thursday that it will lay criminal charges against 10 municipal managers across nine municipalities, labelling these officials... →
SAHRC says water crisis should be declared a state of disaster
By: Natasha Odendaal 12th August 2026 The South Africa Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) stands firm on its view that the country’s water crisis needs to be declared a national disaster.... →
Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa urges communities to exercise extreme caution as heavy snowfall and extreme cold affect parts of the country
11th August 2026 The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, has urged residents and communities in affected... →
How white farmers still dominate land ownership in South Africa in spite of land reform – new research
3rd August 2026 More than 30 years after South Africa achieved democracy it remains one of the world’s most unequal countries. The democratic transition has not... →
South Africa's data centre 'gold rush' risks resource crunch
By: Reuters 22nd July 2026 Rapid expansion of data centres has helped make South Africa the continent's biggest digital hub, even as critics warn the industry's appetite for... →
Operation PROSPER deals heavy blow to illicit mining, organised crime
By: Thabi Shomolekae 17th July 2026 In a massive nationwide crackdown, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have intensified... →
Eskom Green says PFMA approval enables fundraising and partnerships
By: Terence Creamer 16th July 2026 Eskom Holdings reports that it has now secured the required approvals to establish Eskom Green as a wholly-owned renewables subsidiary that is able... →
Why we should count our chickens
By: Econ3x3 16th July 2026 South Africa has 168 million chickens. What does their location tell us about food security and the resilience of this key agricultural sub-sector?... →
Collaboration Not Litigation A Pathway To Better Service Delivery
9th July 2026 The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water and Sanitation), is of... →
Five provinces now load reduction free – Eskom
By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th July 2026 State-owned Eskom says it has reached an important milestone in its nationwide Load Reduction Eradication Programme, with five of the country's... →
