It says it will further provide assistance by providing fodder to affected farmers. OFM News' Bambatha Giko reports that according to the department's spokesperson, Zandisile Luphahla, more than 80 000 hectares of veld as well as infrastructure were destroyed.

Conservationists has expressed their concern about the alarming involvement of international organised crime networks in the trafficking of rhino horn. Sarah Stoner, the director of Intelligence at the Wildlife Justice Commission, says since rhino horn was a high-value criminal commodity, the illicit trade thereof showed no signs of abating. Stoner says this is not just a conservation crisis, and adds that corruption has always been found to be a crucial enabler of all forms of wildlife crimes. This, as it helped criminal operations acquire and move rhino horns throughout the supply chain.

AND

The Free State's Premier, Sisi Ntombela, and the MEC of Agriculture, Thembeni Nxangisa, are expected to lead the Provincial World Food Day celebrations this year. The department explains in a statement that World Food Day is an annual event observed on the 16th of October around the world. OFM News' Heidre Malgas reports that during this time various organisations and governments are called to actively participate and contribute to making the program successful.

OFM News