Author: The Free Stater

Staff ReporterNine people and nine companies appeared in court Wednesday facing at least 286 charges which include fraud, money laundering, criminal gang activity and other serious crimes.Regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Phaladi Shuping said in a statement the accused are facing 77 counts of fraud, 150 counts of money laundering, 29 counts of corruption by a public officer, 29 counts of corruption by private persons and one count of criminal gang activity.The accused persons are Bassie Andrews, 51 and Constance Leeuw, 52, who are employees of the Department of Health, together with Martins Motau, 60, Vusi Masilela,…

Staff Reporter Central University of Technology (CUT) says it will not rush to have all qualifying students back on campus in line with the 66 percent threshold as it wants to ensure there is minimum risk for the spread of COVID-19 at its campuses. CUT spokesperson Dan Maritz said this after Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced that the institution is one of the universities in the country that have been listed as high-risk and would therefore need more stringent measures to control the spread of the coronavirus. Maritz said the university will be receiving more students but…

Staff Reporter Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein has unveiled a board of remembrance in honour of six healthcare staff at the institution who have lost the battle against COVID-19. Acting chief executive officer Motseoa Mabitle, who unveiled the board which carries the names of the health workers during a ceremony on Wednesday, said the move was a way of showing appreciation for the departed staff. “This board of remembrance . . . will set a trend within the health fraternity in the Free State for an increased level of appreciation and recognition of the departed health workers and those who…

Staff Reporter At least five learners are known to have succumbed to COVID-19 in the Free State, according to information from the provincial health department. A presentation prepared but the department this week indicates that between March 26 and August 14, four learners from Lejweleputswa district and one from Motheo died as a result of complications from the acute respiratory disease. About 38 teachers and two non-teaching staff have also died. Lejweleputswa again had the highest number of casualties with 14 teachers and one non-teaching staffer losing their lives to the disease. Motheo lost 13 teachers while Thabo Mofutsanyana had…

Staff Reporter The MEC for Social Development, Mamiki Qabathe, has been sworn in to act as the premier of the Free State for the next two weeks starting today. Premier Sisi Ntombela is due to undergo a routine medical procedure during her leave of absence. Qabathe was sworn in today at the Free State High Court by Judge President Cagney John Musi. “MEC Qabathe will assume the responsibilities of the premier, and will do so until 6 September 2020,” said Free State director-general Kopung Ralikontsane who witnessed the ceremony. “We are confident that MEC Qabathe will enjoy the full support…

Staff Reporter A local businesswoman accused by the Democratic Alliance (DA) of fleecing the Free State government in rentals for office space that was not even occupied has failed to secure an interdict to force the opposition party to retract the “defamatory” allegations. Hantsi Bhetilda Matseke, the sole director of Mayula Procurement and Property Management, had appealed to the High Court after the same court dismissed her initial application to have the DA censured for implicating her company in an allegedly corrupt deal involving the rental of a building to the provincial government. The litigation arose after her company had…

Staff Reporter The Free State health department says it will not scale down its fight against COVID-19 despite a marked drop in new confirmed cases of the acute respiratory disease in recent few weeks. Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said this when he confirmed to The Free Stater that the COVID-19 field hospital being set up at the Bloemfontein Showgrounds will be ready by mid-September. “Work at the field hospital is about 98 percent complete,” Mvambi said in a telephone interview. “There is no expert on COVID-19 in the world today and no one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow,”…

Staff Reporter Police in Virginia have launched a manhunt after a 56-year-old man was found dead in his house with his car plus household appliances missing. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement the lifeless body of Leslie Mosikidi was discovered by his live-in partner at his home in Saai Plaas, Virginia, on Monday morning. “The body of the deceased was found lying in the lounge, with blood coming from his nose and mouth . . .” read part of the statement. It’s believed the woman tried to resuscitate him but realised that he was already dead…

Staff Reporter Over a hundred thousand learners in Grades 6 and 11 in the Free State are expected back in school tomorrow as the country tries to get more classes started after they were forced to close last month in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus. A total of 58 653 Grade 6 and 43 120 Grade 11 learners will resume classes as more classes are phased in. Grades 7 and 12 have already resumed learning. In a statement, the Free State Department of Education said Acting MEC Thembeni Nxangisa and senior officials will visit two schools…

Staff Reporter An epileptic 12-year-old girl suffering from alcohol and snuff addiction is set to get state assistance after the Free State High Court ordered the provincial government to devise a rehabilitation plan for the minor and to ensure she has access to her educational needs. Judge Mpina Mathebula made this order this week after Advocate Hasina Cassim had lodged an application on a semi-urgent basis seeking relief compelling a local mainstream primary school to grant the vulnerable child access to the school. The Free State MECs for and their departments of social development; health; and education were cited as…