Parliament, Monday, 20 October 2025 – The Select Committee on Security and Justice will this week conduct oversight visit to the Free State province from 21 to 24 October 2025. This visit forms part of the committee’s constitutional mandate to oversee the performance of the security and justice sectors in promoting safety, security, and justice.
The committee will focus on several key areas of concern in the province, including the cross-border crime, rural crime and stock theft, and the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy.
The committee will also assess the progress of the One Stop Border Post redevelopment plan and evaluate the functioning of the Border Management Authority (BMA), with the aim of enhancing border security and operational efficiency.
As part of its oversight programme, the committee will visit the Mangaung Child Justice Centre, one of only three such centres in South Africa. The centre integrates services from police, social workers, prosecutors, health officials, and legal aid officers to deliver a coordinated response to child justice matters. The committee will also focus on rehabilitation and diversion programmes being implemented to ensure that the best interests of the child are prioritised, in line with the Child Justice Act.
This oversight visit follows a detailed briefing the committee received last week from the Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, which highlighted crime statistics and community safety profiles across the province. The high levels of violence against women, including gender-based violence and Femicide (GBVF) and sexual offences concerned the committee.
The committee will also host a public engagement session with all the relevant stakeholders where focus will be on stock theft, rural safety, and SAPS service delivery. This session will take place at the Ficksburg Town Hall in Clarens, Ficksburg, and will provide a platform for affected communities to raise concerns and contribute to finding solutions.
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME ARE AS FOLLOWS:
TUESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2025
Venue: Bloemfontein Park Road SAPS Police Station
08:30 Welcome and Introductions
09:00 Briefing by the Provincial Commissioner on the station upgrades and service delivery to the
area.
09:45: Briefing by the DPWI on the refurbishments, progress, delays and way forward to completing
the work at the station.
10:00 to 11:00 Site visit of the area
11:30 Travel to Mangaung One Stoo Child Justice Centre
12:30 Briefing on the implementation of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act No. 75 of 2008) successes
and challenges.
13:00 Committee discussion (Working lunch)
14:00 – 15:00 Inspection of One-Stop Child Justice Centre
15:30 Travel to SANDF Tempe Infantry Base
16:00 SANDF Tempe Infantry Base: Welcome and Introductions
16:30 Briefing by base command on the profile, operations and challenges.
The Department of Military Veterans to brief the committee on benefits to military veterans in the region and to coordinate with the Free State MEC for Human Settlements and their team, to update the committee on the housing benefits for Military Veterans in the Mangaung region.
18:00 Committee discussion
WEDNESDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2025
VENUE: Ladybrand (Maseru Bridge Border)
10:00 Welcome and Introductions
10:30 Briefing on the BMA operations along the border with the Kingdom of Lesotho incorporating all
ports of entry along the border line.
11:00 DPWI briefing on the border posts identified for redevelopment in Free State.
11:30 Committee discussion
12:30 LUNCH
14:00 Maseru Bridge Border Post site visit.
15:30 Clarens, Ficksburg and Fouriesburg community engagement on stock theft and rural safety
programme and SAPS service delivery matters. Venue: Ficksburg Town Hall
THURSDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2025
Venue: Phuthaditjhaba - Department of Home Affairs office
09:00 Welcome and Introductions
09:30 Briefing on the operations and challenges in serving the community.
Committee discussion.
11:00 – 12:00 Site visit of DHA office and operations.
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates Court: Welcome and Introductions
13:30 Briefing on the successes and challenges to the effective functioning of the courts.
14:00 Committee discussion.
16:00 Site visit of court facility
17:00 Travel to Harrismith - Intabazwe Satellite Police Station.
18:00 Inspection of Intabazwe Satellite Police Station.
FRIDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2025
08:15 Harrismith police station: Welcome and Introductions
08:30 Briefing on the station upgrades and service delivery to the area.
09:00 CPFs briefing on cooperation with police and challenges.
09:15 Inspection of the facility.
10:30 Travel to Harrismith Magistrates Court.
11:00 Harrismith Magistrates Court: Welcome and Introductions
12:30 Committee discussion. (Working lunch)
13:30 Site visit of court facility.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES
For media enquiries or interviews with the Acting Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malentsoe Magwagwa (Ms)
Cell: 081 716 5824
Email: mmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za
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