Author: The Free Stater

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…

Staff Reporter Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thembeni Nxangisa has described the late mayor of Moqhaka Local Municipality, Lucky Phooko, as a dedicated community builder. He reportedly died on Monday morning and the cause of his death is not yet known. Nxangisa said he had learnt of Phooko’s death with great shock and sadness. “His dedication to building the community and serving the people of Moqhaka is admirable,” said the MEC in a statement. Nxangisa described Phooko as dedicated and committed to building a better life for all South Africans. “He is identified as an individual who spared no…

Staff Reporter A 62-year-old man has been arrested after two women were found dead in his house in Bloemfontein. The two women, aged 50 and 56, had stab wounds to their necks. “Kopanong police were summoned to a house in Chris Hani on Sunday after two bodies of females were found,” the police said in a brief statement. “It is suspected the incident happened between Friday and Saturday morning as both victims were last seen on Friday.” The police said investigations were still underway to establish what led to the gruesome murders. The suspect is expected to appear in the…

Staff Reporter Police in Van Stadensrus, southwestern Free State, are investigating a case of business robbery and attempted murder following a shooting incident at a tavern on Sunday night. A police vehicle is said to have come under attack as it drove past a tuck shop while on routine patrol. No one was injured in the incident, but upon investigating further, it emerged that a robbery was in progress at the tuck shop when the police vehicle was shot at. The suspects then fled to a nearby tavern. “On arrival at the tavern, the suspects allegedly fired randomly at patrons…

Staff Reporter A man suspected to be behind the disappearance and death of nine-year-old Boipelo Mesi from Maokeng in Kroonstad was fatally assaulted by community members on Saturday afternoon after the girl’s body was allegedly found in his shack. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said Boipelo’s body was found after some children playing on the street reported a suspicious bad smell to their parents. He said community members who have been assisting in the search for Boipelo since she disappeared almost two weeks ago immediately went to investigate. The shack is not very far from the victim’s house. “They…

Staff Reporter The COVID-19 pandemic could result in more youths losing their jobs while those running small businesses could be forced to close due to low business, according to an official from Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA). CCBSA public affairs, communication and sustainability director Nozicelo Ngcobo says the pandemic is likely to have a sustained effect on the economy, already dogged by low production and high unemployment particularly among the youth. Ngcobo said this when she visited members of the Bizniz in A Box initiative which was piloted in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in 2015 in partnership with the Free State…

Staff Reporter The bail hearing for a Bloemfontein man accused of killing his own parents and a sibling has been postponed to next week after he was reportedly put in isolation. Jacobus Visser, 42, was expected in court on Thursday to start his bail bid after making his initial court appearance last week. National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping told The Free Stater the suspect could not attend the hearing as he had been isolated. “Jacobus Visser’s case was postponed in his absence to 17 September because he’s in isolation,” he said. Shuping could not immediately confirm if Visser…

When buying a sectional title unit – flat or townhouse – you become a member of what is called the body corporate. Essentially, the body corporate is made up of all the people who own a unit in the scheme. The trustees who are elected by all the owners (body corporate) represent the other owners in dealings between the body corporate as a building and the outside world. One of the jobs of the body corporate is to have a budget for running the building from which each owner pays a monthly levy, which together collects enough money to do…

Staff Reporter The Bloemfontein Regional Court has given two of the people accused of defrauding the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of about R244 million until early November to sort out their legal representation. Former director for agrarian reform Mahlomola Mofokeng, 60 and former head of department Mbana Peter Thabethe, 55, told the court they wanted to explore the possibility of being represented by a state attorney because they were under the employ of the government when the alleged crimes were committed. The court agreed to the request and gave the pair until November 8 to sort…