This week, the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Agriculture and Rural Development convened an oversight meeting with farmers who were affected by the veld fires. Bitsa Lenkopane, chairperson of the committee, tells OFM News the purpose of the meeting was to investigate the extent of damage caused by the fires and to find ways to assist affected farmers. It was reported that fence lines, poles, water sources such as pipes, and water tanks were damaged by the fire.

The DA in the Free State raised concerns about the increasing crime rate in the province, with a focus on farms. According to the DA's Roy Jankielsohn, they paid a recent visit to the Lesotho border from where cross-border crime takes place. In a statement, Jankielsohn says crime along the border of the Eastern Free State causes large-scale economic damage to farmers and has an impact on the value of farms. OFM News is awaiting a response from the Free State Department of Agriculture.

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ActionSA has announced that they have received confirmation from the South African Human Rights Commission that the Jagersfontein mine dam disaster will be investigated. Speaking to OFM News' Lee Simmons, Patricia Kopane, ActionSA Free State Provincial Chairperson, says this is on account of complaints that were submitted in September requesting an urgent investigation into the human rights violations by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Jagersfontein Development Projects Mine, and the Kopanong Municipality.

OFM News/Lee Simmons