Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Murder and sexual offences dropped by about 40 percent between April and June in the Free State as the province recorded the biggest ever drop in crime figures, according to the police. According to the first quarter crime statistics released Friday for the period of April 1 to June 30, 2020, murder cases were 43.4 percent lower from 221 last year to 125. Sexual offences fell by 40 percent from 818 to 491. “. . . the first quarter of the 2020/2021 period was a much safer time to live in the country,” Police Minister Bheki Cele said…

Staff Reporter A double murder suspect who has been on the run for 15 years is expected to appear in the Bethlehem Magistrates Court after he was arrested Wednesday at his hideout in Gauteng. Thapelo Samuel Mokoena, 40, who also went by the name Mlangeni, is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and escaping from lawful custody just a day before he was to be sentenced. His arrest, at Hlanganani Mine in Gauteng, follows a media campaign in which the Free State police appealed to the public for his whereabouts. He was wanted in connection with the alleged killing of…

Staff Reporter South Africa should consider expanding the green energy sector as one of the ways of kickstart the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic because it has the potential to create more jobs, an economic has expert said. Hugo Pienaar, from the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University, told a webinar hosted by Central University of Technology on Thursday that it is important for the country to consider the sector as a viable option because it has potential for growth. “There is a big focus on green energy but we haven’t seen the delivery of that,” Pienaar said in…

Staff Reporter The basement parking space at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein has been converted into a new ward for COVID-19 patients that was officially opened by Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela today. Known as the Tumelo Ward to signify hope, the new setting has an expanded space for 103 beds and 60 high-care beds underneath Idhalia House. Ntombela said the initiative is part of continued efforts by the province to ensure adequate beds are available as economic activity gradually increases, posing a higher risk of more infections. “. . . our current hospital structures across the province will…

Staff Reporter The 2020 Grade 12 mid-year and final examinations will be written concurrently from November 5 to December 15 with the results expected in February next year, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced. In a statement, the DBE said the reconfiguration of the exam calendar follows severe disruptions caused by the lengthy closure of schools since mid-March due to the COVID-19-enforced lockdown. “Following the closure of schools on 18 March 2020, and the national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, a decision was taken by the Minister of Basic Education to administer the May/June 2020 examination…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Education says it is happy with the COVID-19 health protocols being implemented at schools. Head of department Tsoarelo Malokoane said this as schools in the province welcomed over 60 000 Grade 7 learners who resumed classes on Tuesday following a two-week break. “We are happy with the impressive (turnout) of learners in schools around the province,” he said in a statement. Public schools across the country were forced to close last month in a bid to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. There were growing fears that teachers and support staff with…

Staff Reporter At least 24 healthcare workers in the Free State have succumbed to COVID-19, Health MEC Montseng Tsiu has said. She said a total of 1 786 healthcare workers in the province have contracted the coronavirus and about 1 296 had recovered from the acute respiratory disease. The MEC said this during a special tribute to healthcare workers and professionals she co-hosted virtually with Premier Sisi Ntombela on Tuesday. “The attack is coming from all corners of the battlefield,” Tsiu said as she bemoaned the loss of life and saluted all healthcare workers for their courage in the face…

Staff Reporter ANC councillors defied their own party by backing the opposition to oust Mangaung Metro executive mayor Olly Mlamleli in a vote of no confidence passed Friday night. Close to 10 ANC councillors are believed to have voted with the opposition in support of the motion proposed by the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) to remove the mayor over service delivery issues. ANC Free State spokesperson Thabo Meeko said his party – which holds 58 of the 100 seats in the Mangaung Metro council – was embarrassed by the development as it was working hard to fix the situation at…

Staff Reporter A fight over the ownership of a dog ended up before the Free State High Court after two Bloemfontein women failed to resolve their dispute amicably. Johanna Christina Le Roux approached the court seeking an order to have a German shepherd dog, named Vasti von Bergheim, returned to her by her former friend Johanna Francina Visser. Alternatively, she asked to be paid R56 880 as compensation for the financial loss she claimed to have suffered as a result of her training, feeding and housing the dog for a period of 18 months. Judge JP Daffue, however, dismissed the…

Staff Reporter At least three water tanks installed in different parts of the Free State as part of COVID-19 interventions to bring water to communities with acute water shortages have been stolen, with more than a dozen damaged by vandals. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in the Free State says two of the tanks were stolen in Thaba Nchu and Mangaung, while the other one disappeared from Tsheseng in Thabo Mofutsanyana district. A further four tanks in other areas were damaged and another 14 either had their taps stolen or damaged. DWS provincial head Tseliso Ntili expressed shock…