Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to join the global phenomenon created by local hit song Jerusalema and take up the challenge to dance to it on Heritage Day. He said this when he announced the latest adjustment to Alert Level 1 of the national lockdown which will see more sectors of the economy resuming operations. Ramaphosa said this could be the most befitting way to reflect on the difficult journey the country has travelled over the past six months and pay tribute to those who led the fight against the disease as well as those who…

South Africa will on Sunday midnight move to the least restrictive lockdown it has been in since the country took the drastic step in March to bring the country to a standstill, and will see the country open its borders for international travel for the first time in half a year. South Africans will also now be allowed to be out until midnight, as the curfew is relaxed to only last from 12pm until 4am. The economy was brought to a standstill, and though restrictions have been eased gradually, some sectors of the economy such as the tourism sector were…

About 12 million people in South Africa have “probably” been infected with the coronavirus, but that startlingly high number has not caused a similarly high death rate and might indicate a widespread “level of immunity”, the minister of health says. More than 20 percent of South Africa’s population of 58 million have had the virus at some point, Dr Zweli Mkhize estimated earlier this week. He cited studies that found the presence of coronavirus antibodies in blood samples taken from parts of the population. The findings have prompted the government to start a more complete national study, Mkhize said. “South…

Staff Reporter A couple that allegedly burnt their 14-year-old son with boiling water under circumstances that remain unclear has been granted bail by the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court. Police say the couple, which lives on Douglas Street in the city, now faces a charge of attempted murder for the brutal attack. The names of the parents will not be published in order to protect the identity of the child who also has two siblings aged eight and five years old. It was confirmed in court that the child, who has a condition, is from the woman’s past relationship. The husband, who…

Staff Reporter A driver at Albert Nzula in Trompsburg has appeared in court facing a charge of raping a 14-year-old girl after giving her lift home. The suspect, aged 38, made an initial appearance at the Trompsburg Magistrates Court on Monday, after being arrested at his home the previous day. It is alleged that the girl was at a hiking spot along the N1 in Trompsburg on September 13 when a white Hyundai Combi with red registration plates stopped for her. The suspect was travelling to Bloemfontein and the victim was travelling to Edenburg, about 40km away. But upon reaching…

Staff Reporter Free State police are appealing to anyone with information on alleged human trafficking incidents said to be happening around Bloemfontein to come forward and assist. Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane said in a statement on Wednesday that she viewed all allegations of human trafficking very seriously and urged anyone with information to report to the police. “People need to remember that whatever the circumstances, such incidents must be reported immediately to the police and there is no waiting period for such a matter to get reported,” said Motswenyane. All information, according to the statement, will be…

Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 1900 hours today on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The president is expected to announce a further adjustment to Alert Level 1 of the national lockdown which would see more sectors of the economy being allowed to resume operations. This comes on the back of a marked drop in new infections across the country and an improved recovery rate which now stands at 89.5 percent. The address follows a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council on Monday, a meeting of the President’s Coordinating Council…

Staff Reporter Two men convicted of multiple cases of rape have been handed life sentences by different courts as the country grapples with growing cases of gender-based violence. Muzi Wiseman Sithebe Twala, 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Free State High Court sitting at the Thabo Mofutsanyane Secure Justice Centre in Phuthaditjhaba on Tuesday for a series of rape cases as well as murder and theft convictions. Sebuti Dintwe, 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Bultfontein Regional Court for raping a 21-year-old woman last year. Twala’s crime spree is said to have started back in 2011…

Staff Reporter Matjhabeng Local Municipality has handed over 139 farms that it owns to Eskom as security towards a debt of R3.4 billion that it owes the national power utility. The farms are valued at approximately R2.5 billion. In a statement, the company said the title deeds of the farms will be endorsed in favour of Eskom until the debt dispute between Eskom and the municipality is finalised. “This step on the part of Eskom is a result of the repeated failures by the municipality to adhere to its payment obligations to Eskom for the bulk supply of electricity,” read…

Staff Reporter Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe says he wants to see classes in public schools not carrying more than 30 learners so that teachers can have more time to engage with the pupils. This, according to him, should become the new norm, particularly in the foundation phase starting from Grade R up to Grade 4. The MEC said this when he visited Caleb Motshabi Primary School in Bloemfontein on Monday to oversee the relocation of Grade 1-3 learners from Unity Primary School to allow for improved social distancing. “When COVID-19 is over, I don’t want to see us…