Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter At least 86 000 people landed jobs in the Free State between July and September this year but more people in the province are without jobs as the official unemployment rate has jumped from 25.3 percent to 35.5 percent. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa on Thursday indicates that the province now has 723 000 employed people compared to 638 000 people in the second quarter. However, the number of those without jobs increased by 182 000 from 215 000 in the second quarter to 398 000 in the third quarter. The province now…

Staff Reporter Lejweleputswa district and Mangaung Metro in the Free State will be among some of the areas in the country that the government will be closely monitoring to ensure a reduction in the spread of COVID-19. This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised national address to give an update on the country’s efforts to contain the spread of the acute respiratory disease. The two regions have been recording a steady but sustained increase in COVID-19 cases and there are fears this could lead to a second wave of the deadly disease which has claimed about 1…

Outgoing auditor-general Kimi Makwetu has died. His office announced his death on Wednesday afternoon. “Mr Makwetu passed away in hospital. He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in June 2018,” the office said in a statement. Makwetu, who grew up in Cape Town and would have turned 55 in January, has been one of the most respected public servants over the past decade. He would have finished his term as auditor-general at the end of November. “We ask the public to keep the family in their thoughts as they come to terms with his passing, and to give them…

Staff Reporter Up to three more suspects could be added to the number of the accused in the failed Free State asbestos audit project, the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday. State prosecutor Advocate Lefalake Bouman Mpemvane told the court, when the seven accused persons in the matter made a second court appearance, that investigations into the matter were continuing and more suspects were being probed to establish their possible involvement in the tainted project believed to have cost the provincial government about R255 million. “The case before court was previously postponed for the purposes of further investigations and possibly…

Staff Reporter The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will investigate the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of the son of a former Mangaung Metro councillor by a police officer after allegedly breaking into his house in Heidedal with a friend. Jaron de Bruin, 26, the son of John de Bruin, is said to have been shot by the police officer following the break-in in the early hours of Tuesday. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement a case of murder, attempted murder and house robbery had been opened at Heidedal Police Station following a house…

Staff Reporter ANC secretary general Ace Magashule is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday facing charges of fraud and corruption charges relating to a failed asbestos audit project in the Free State. The Hawks in the Free State confirmed to journalists on Tuesday afternoon that a warrant of arrest had been issued against Magashule, who is also the former premier of the province. Hawks provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn said the warrant was signed by the acting director of public prosecutions in the Free State, Advocate Navilla Somaru. “His lawyer has been notified . .…

Staff Reporter The Free State High Court has ordered First National Bank (FNB) to release funds belonging to Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) Local Municipality which it had frozen after Eskom obtained a court order to put a hold on the funds. Eskom attached the municipality’s bank account on July 21 as a way to force the municipality to pay its outstanding debt for bulk electricity supplies believed to be around R5.4 billion. In response, Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality approached the court on September 17 for relief as the dispute over the amount owed escalated. But on Monday, Judge C Van Zyl ordered the…

Staff Reporter Only two of the four people arrested at the weekend in connection with the killing of a farmer in Hennenman remain in custody after one was released by the police while the other allegedly committed suicide. Police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the suspect was released after police realised the woman could not be directly linked to the crime. “. . . the third one was released after she could not be positively linked to the crime,” he said in a statement released on Monday. Makhele said one of the suspects, Tshidiso Patrick Bochedi, 36, appeared briefly before…

Staff Reporter One of the four people arrested in connection with a farm attack in which the owner was killed and the son left seriously injured in the northern Free State has allegedly killed himself. The suspect is believed to have taken his own life hardly 24 hours after being arrested on Friday night. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement the suspects were arrested on Friday night and kept in police custody. “One of the suspects aged 47 was found hanging in his cell in the early hours of this morning,” said Makhele on Saturday. “The…

Staff Reporter The Central University of Technology (CUT) Council has confirmed the Free State institution’s vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Henk de Jager, has been put on precautionary suspension to allow for investigations into numerous allegations levelled against him. Without explaining the nature of the allegations, the Council also announced the university’s deputy vice-chancellor for resources and operations, Dr Gary Paul, was placed on similar suspension. A statement issued by interim chairperson of the Council, Nonie Mokose, also confirmed that Council chairperson Boysie Phehlukwayo and his deputy Dr Garth Van Gensen resigned this week. “Council has noted various allegations against .…