Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Four suspects were expected to appear in court today for the murder of a police captain’s son in a Free State farming town. The suspects, aged between 20 and 24, were arrested in the neighbouring towns of Theunissen and Virginia this morning. This follows an operation mounted by the police after a lifeless male body was discovered at the Basil Read cemetery in Theunissen, about 95 kilometers northeast of Bloemfontein. The deceased man was identified as Andile Majikela, the 31-year-old son of a police captain in the farming town. According to Free State provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thandi…

Staff Reporter Free State Agriculture and Rural Development MEC William Bulwane says he has asked the Department of Cooperative Governance to declare the flood-ravaged farming communities in the province disaster areas so that they can get dedicated support from the government and other organisations. Bulwane told a virtual media briefing on Tuesday that farmers in several districts in the province urgently needed support as they have suffered extensive damage to their crops, infrastructure and inputs. “We are in the process of engaging the provincial treasury for immediate financial relief and the Department of Cooperative Governance to declare the area disaster-stricken…

A new variant of the coronavirus first identified in South Africa is more contagious than earlier versions, experts said on Monday, but there is no evidence that it is more deadly. The new variant is 50 percent more contagious, said epidemiologist Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of the health ministry’s scientific committee. “There is no evidence the new COVID variant is more severe than the original variant,” he added. The experts drew their conclusions about the variant – now the dominant strain in South Africa – from an analysis of data collected from the main infection clusters across the country.…

Reviewed by Alonso Duralde Title: Locked Down Type: Romantic Comedy Director: Doug Liman Written by: Steven Knight Starring: Anne Hathaway, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Merchant, Mindy Kaling, Lucy Boynton, Mark Gatiss, Claes Bang, Ben Stiller, Ben Kingsley Running time: 118 minutes Release date: January 14, 2020 It’s January 21, and with the COVID-19 vaccine still in the preliminary stages of roll-out, it’s far too early to think of the world as being “post-pandemic”. But it’s clear that our lives will be different when this health crisis is over, and Locked Down is already contemplating those changes. That…

Staff Reporter Four people have been confirmed dead following a head-on-collision between a light motor vehicle and a truck. Provincial health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said in a brief statement the accident happened along the N8 highway at the T-Junction leading to Botshabelo West. It is believed the four died after the BMW they were travelling in got under the truck which was coming from the direction of Thaba Nchu, causing it to overturn. Two of the bodies have been removed from wreckage of the BMW while the other two are still trapped under a truck which is lying on…

Staff Reporter Free State police say a 58-year-old woman from QwaQwa has been found dead in her house with multiple stab wounds. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said in a statement the incident happened at Theosane Village in Bolata. “The body of the woman . . . was found lying on the kitchen floor with multiple stab wounds to the head and mouth,” said Mbambo. The woman, according to the police, lived alone in the house. It’s believed the incident could have happened between Wednesday at about 18:30 and Thursday. “The deceased’s house was found ransacked with some of…

Staff Reporter Welkom police in are still looking for a 14-year-old learner from Teta High School in the town who was last seen on December 21 last year. Morena Gift Lentor is said to have left home in a huff at about 06:45 after he was questioned by his mother about a hubbly-bubbly cigarette she had found in his trouser pocket while doing laundry. He denied any knowledge before leaving the house. A few hours later at about 10:00 he was seen walking near Monatisa Shop close to Thotagauta High School also in Thabong and never returned home. On the…

It is a fact of life that everyone does it – sign on the dotted line without reading the fine print. I am not suggesting that sales contracts – when you are buying a property – are fine print, far from it. What I am suggesting is that you should know what you are doing when you buy property – it can kill you financially if you don’t. When buying a house, especially for the first time, you are likely not to understand what is happening. Buying the house is just the start of the process and it is vital…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has dispatched a team from its disaster management unit to assess the extent of the damage caused by the recent heavy rains in farming areas. This follows reports that infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings as well as crops have been extensively damaged by recent heavy downpours. “Preliminary reports indicate that some roads on farms have become inaccessible,” read part of a statement issued on Thursday by the department’s spokesperson Zimasa Leputla. She said silos, houses, workshops and storage facilities have also been damaged by the rains which have…

To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. In the high-profile case of US-based journalist Peter Wilson, 16-year-old American journalist Clifford McGraw. On Monday, UK fashion designer Andy McDonald disclosed his discussion with the style icon, Theresa May, and the renowned fashion hub, Downing Street. Accused of plotting against the principles of the UK Fashion Authority’s anti-trend regulations, a claim he firmly refutes. Following this, fashion enthusiasts were granted twenty hours to inquire about the perspectives of both parties. Addressing The…