Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it has closed at least 23 Clicks outlets across the Free State as it piles pressure on the health and beauty products retailer to act after a hair advert widely viewed as racist was posted on its website over the weekend. The action is part of nationwide protests by the party against the hair advert, which Clicks claims came from a third party, TRESemmé South Africa. EFF provincial chairperson Mandisa Makesini told The Free Stater by telephone that the party had closed about eight outlets in Mangaung Metro, 14 in Thabo Mofutsanyana…

Staff Reporter The man accused of kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend’s 20-month-old baby, Blessing Bokamoso Mpembe, following a fight between the former lovers was actually out on parole after being jailed for attacking the same woman on several occasions. It has emerged that Chepete Petrus Mngomezulu, 32, was imprisoned at Lindley Correctional Centre in 2018 after being handed a three-year sentence for, amongst others, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Khorny Mpembe, the mother of the deceased child, after stabbing her 10 times. Mngomezulu, who was found hanging last Thursday in a disused building at Vrede Farm…

Staff Reporter Eskom has attached the bank account belonging to a Free State municipality over the non-payment of a bulk electricity supply debt which now stands at R3.4 billion. In a statement released on Sunday, the national power utility said it resorted to the move after several efforts to get Matjhabeng Local Municipality – the hub of mining activity in the province including the towns of Welkom, Allanridge, Odendaalsrus and Virginia – to settle the arrears failed. “In response to the non-payment of the municipality’s outstanding R3.4 billion debt for the provision of bulk electricity, Eskom . . . attached…

Staff Reporter The 20-month-old child who was snatched from Petrus Steyn by her mother’s former lover following a fight on Sunday night has been found dead. The suspect, Chepete Mngomezulu, allegedly committed suicide. A source close to the investigation said the victim, Blessing Bokamoso Mpembe, was found with injuries to the head and her clothes had blood stains, an indication she may have suffered a violent death. The child’s body and that of the suspect were found by the police at Vrede Farm in Petrus Steyn, eastern Free State, on Thursday. “Police were conducting a search at Vrede Farm where…

Staff Reporter Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and local water board Bloemwater have agreed to put in place a payment plan that would see the anticipated water supply disruptions put on hold for now. In a joint statement, the city and its bulk water supplier said the impasse between the two parties had been discussed at length and the municipality had committed to pay under a new payment arrangement. “The city did commit to honouring its obligation going forward,” read part of the statement. Earlier this week, Bloemwater announced that it had found its financial situation unsustainable due to the non-payment of…

Staff Reporter Free State police have put up a reward of up to R50 000 for anyone who can assist them in locating a suspect in the alleged murder of two women that happened two years ago at Intabazwe near Harrismith. The real identity of the suspect is unknown but police, with the assistance of witnesses, have done a facial construction which they hope could assist community members identify the man. It is alleged that on January 30, 2018, at about 20:40, the now deceased 60-year-old woman and her daughter, 33, were having dinner at their home with three guests…

Staff Reporter Free State police say another child, a nine-year-old girl from Kroonstad, has gone missing. Boipelo Mesi of 194 Gelukwaarts in Maokeng township was reported missing by her mother Lynette Sesele. She was last seen playing with friends on the street near her house on Tuesday at about 1pm. The mother told the police she went to visit a friend in Phomolong, leaving Boipelo playing with friends but on her return Boipelo was nowhere to be found. “She went to inquire from her friends who told her that Boipelo was talking to a tall man with a blue overall…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) will host a webinar on women in manufacturing this Friday. The online seminar will run from 11am and it will also be live on the department’s website. A statement issued by spokesperson Kgotso Tau said the webinar will give an opportunity to female entrepreneurs, those in manufacturing and those planning to be involved in the sector to engage with different stakeholders. “The purpose is to transform the sector in particular and the economy at large,” said DESTEA. Among it aims and objectives, the webinar…

Staff Reporter Residents of Bloemfontein and surrounding towns should brace for water shortages after Bloemwater warned it intended to suspend operations due to financial troubles. The bulk water supplier said its financial situation had become unsustainable due to the non-payment of accounts by the municipalities it services. Bloemwater is owed over R1 billion by the Mangaung Metro Municipality, which governs the Free State capital of Bloemfontein and the nearby towns of Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. The water company also services the Kopanong and Mantsopa local municipalities. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bloemwater said huge debts owed mainly by the…

Staff Reporter Four Bangladeshi nationals have been missing for over a week after they left their home in a Free State town with the intention to buy stock for their businesses, according to the police. The four men — Mukit Rasel Abdul, 37, Khurseed Alam Noakhali, 33, Sindur Hossain Noakhali and Moshim Mahommed, 35 — left Winburg on August 25 going to Welkom where they were to restock but never reached the gold mining town. They were travelling in a white Honda vehicle (model unknown) with the Lesotho registration number RY708. It is believed they had about R70 000 cash…