Author: The Free Stater

THE Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has been ordered by the Public Protector to take immediate remedial action to correct long-standing property registration errors in Thaba Nchu. These actions include issuing a public apology to affected residents and ensuring the rectification of incorrect title deeds within specific timeframes. The Public Protector’s report, issued on 30 December after a detailed investigation, found that both the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and the Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) were responsible for maladministration that delayed rightful property ownership in the area. The investigation was initiated following complaints from residents whose properties had been…

LOUZANNE Coetzee, the trailblazing para-athlete from Bloemfontein, has once again made the Free State proud. On 29 November 2024, she was among the country’s top Olympians and Paralympians honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa for their outstanding achievements at the Paris 2024 Games. Coetzee’s stellar performance at the Paralympic Games earned her a bronze medal in the women’s 1 500m T11 event, setting a new personal best of 4:35.49 – a remarkable five seconds faster than her previous record. The ceremony celebrated South Africa’s success at the Games, with Team South Africa collectively securing 12 medals – six at the Olympics…

THE Bultfontein Regional Court has sentenced Pule Richard Motseu (24) from Phahong, near Welkom, to life imprisonment for rape and 15 years for aggravated robbery. The conviction stems from a brutal attack on 28 May 2023, when he assaulted and repeatedly raped a 22-year-old woman, a former schoolmate, after robbing her and her friend at gunpoint. The victim and her friend were walking to a tavern around 10 pm when Motseu confronted them, demanding their cellphones and money. While the victim’s friend managed to escape, the victim was forcibly taken to a nearby abandoned house, where Motseu raped her multiple…

THE MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ntombizanele Sifuba, has conducted unannounced site visits to assess progress on key departmental construction projects in the Mangaung Metro Municipality and Mohokare Local Municipality. Among the sites inspected were the Wepener Library and the Smithfield Multipurpose Sport Centre, both of which remain under construction. The MEC Sifuba voiced her disappointment with the slow progress and issued a stern warning to contractors to adhere to contractual timelines. “Failure to stick to the project timeframes will result in necessary penalties against the contractors,” she said during the inspections. “No additional expenditure will be tolerated…

THE South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in the Free State will hold its Provincial Members Assembly (PMA) in Bloemfontein on 26 and 27 November, as municipalities across the province face growing criticism over poor service delivery, failing infrastructure and financial mismanagement. The assembly, bringing together political and administrative leadership from all municipalities in the province under one roof, comes at a time when many municipalities in the province and across South Africa are failing to provide basic services such as clean water, electricity and proper sanitation. Public outrage has escalated, with communities staging protests over deteriorating living conditions and…

IN a monumental twist of South African football history, newly-promoted Magesi FC from Limpopo shocked defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns with a stunning 2-1 victory in the Carling Knockout Cup final held at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The match, hailed as the ultimate “David and Goliath” clash, saw Magesi achieve what seemed impossible, becoming the first newly-promoted team to win South Africa’s League Cup. The highly anticipated encounter drew football fans from across the nation, with the Free State proudly hosting this historic event. The Free State Stadium buzzed with electrifying energy as Sundowns, heavy favourites, looked poised…

LOCAL electricity distributor Centlec ELtd has confirmed a disturbing incident in which one of its employees was shot while responding to a callout in the Roodewal area in Bloemfontein. The incident occurred on 10 November when Ricardo Willemse, a technician, was allegedly attacked by an unknown person. He sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The case, registered under case number 143/11/2024 at the Bloemspruit Police Station, is under active investigation. Centlec says it is cooperating fully with law-enforcement authorities and has called for the swift apprehension of the perpetrator. “We strongly condemn this act of violence and urge the public to…

THE 2024 Free State Fashion Week (FSFW) successfully concluded in Bloemfontein over the weekend, highlighting the best of local and national talent in the fashion and lifestyle industry. This prestigious event, which serves as a platform for both established and emerging designers, drew attention to the vibrant creativity, culture, and diversity that South Africa has to offer. The MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ntombizanele Sifuba, who attended the event, congratulated the organisers for their successful execution of the fashion week. In her address, she praised the initiative for its role in promoting culture, creativity and the artistic endeavors…

THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State has pledged unwavering support for its national leader Julius Malema, even as the party faces a wave of high-profile defections. This week, former EFF chairperson and advocate Dali Mpofu became the latest prominent figure to leave, joining former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. Mpofu’s departure follows that of Malema’s deputy Floyd Shivambu, as well as lawmakers Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, raising questions about the EFF’s stability. However, Mapheule Liphoko, the EFF Free State chairperson, told The Free Stater that the provincial branch remains unfazed by the defections. “As EFF Free…

THE Free State province has been gripped by a series of suspected food poisoning incidents this week, leaving more than 125 schoolchildren hospitalised across various towns. The first major incident occurred at Daluvuyo Primary School in Welkom, where 45 learners were treated for suspected food poisoning. While most of them were discharged, a 10-year-old boy remained hospitalised at Bongani Regional Hospital due to other health complications exacerbated by ingesting the suspected contaminated snack. A day later, on Thursday, Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein treated 47 learners from Ihobe Primary School. While most were discharged, a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old…