Author: The Free Stater

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Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation tonight evening at 2000 hours. The address is expected to focus on developments on South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. A statement issued by the Office of the President said the address follows a number of meetings of the cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC). Ramaphosa’s address will be broadcast live on television and radio and will be streamed live on a range of online platforms. Media reports in the past few days said the NCCC was expected to recommend that cabinet close schools across…

Staff Reporter Just over a thousand educational staff and learners have contracted COVID-19 in the Free State since the phased reopening of schools started early June. Latest figures released by Education MEC Tate Makgoe indicate that as at July 21, at least 1 066 people tested positive for the disease in the province. About 671 teachers are said to have contracted the disease as well as 263 learners, 24 office-based officials and 108 non-teaching staff. Lejweleputswa district has recorded the highest number of cases at 382 – the figure includes 272 teachers, 67 learners, four office-based officials and 23 non-teaching…

Staff Reporter The 10111 Emergency Centre in Bloemfontein and six police stations around the province have been forced to temporarily close after officials tested positive for COVID-19. Free State police say people may in the meantime call 082 465 6030 or 082 041 3867 for emergencies. The police stations closed include Heinnemann, Parys, Tierpoort, Rouxville, Mangaung and Phuthaditjhaba. The police say the temporary closure is to allow for decontamination and deep cleaning before the stations can be reopened to the public. Communities serviced by the affected police stations will be able to access services from temporary facilities that have been…

Staff Reporter The Free State School of Nursing (FSSON) is undergoing an urgent risk assessment exercise after its entire 16-member management team tested positive for COVID-19. Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said all those affected are in self-isolation. “The campus community was informed and contact tracing was initiated,” he said. The FSSON has three campuses across the province in Bloemfontein, Welkom and QwaQwa. Mvambi said the health department is now considering whether to keep the nursing school campuses open or close them for some time. “This unexpected situation has prompted the department to contemplate putting all campuses of FSSON on…

Staff Reporter Cash-strapped Eskom has asked one of the banks used by Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality in eastern Free State to freeze its account so that it can recover some of the money it is owed. The unusual move follows a court order granted to the national power utility in 2018 after the municipality failed to honour its debt for bulk electricity supplies which now stands at about R5.3 billion. In a statement released Wednesday, Eskom said the execution of the court order is part of its revenue recovery strategy. “This resulted in the account being frozen,” Eskom said in the…

Staff Reporter The Free State could be considered for hosting the rugby bio-bubble for domestic games set to start at the end of August. A bio-bubble is a strictly controlled bio-secure environment where players, management and staff are regularly monitored for COVID-19 infections. The initial choice for the rugby bio-bubble was Johannesburg but the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Gauteng may scupper the plans. SA Rugby chief executive officer Jurie Roux confirmed to SA Rugby Magazine that they are considering another option outside the COVID-19 epicentre. “We are busy negotiating with government on two scenarios,” Roux was quoted as…

Neil Manthorp Professional cricketers are required to undergo educational training about match-fixing and sign a contractually-binding pledge to report any approaches from book-makers or fixers which may compromise them or their team-mates. Failure to report approaches, or knowledge of match-fixing amongst team-mates or even the opposition, can result in the same punishment as complicit involvement. Why isn’t racism and prejudice treated the same way? If South Africa’s 300-plus professional cricketers were educated to understand that turning a blind eye or a deaf ear to incidents of bias and abuse were as unacceptable as implementing them, perhaps attitudes might change. Match-fixing…

Staff Reporter Heidedal and Navalsig police stations in Bloemfontein have been closed after officers stationed at the two facilities tested positive for COVID-19. Free State Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane said communities serviced by the two police stations can still access services at temporary centres that have been set up. “Heidedal SAPS will operate from a caravan placed outside the police station,” she said in a statement. Navalsig police station will offer services from Nederduitse Gerefomeerde Kerk Hall at no 45 Exton Road, Hilton. “The police stations will be decontaminated so as to curb the spread of the…

Staff Reporter The Free State provincial health department says striking workers at the province’s major psychiatric hospital in Bloemfontein have agreed to return to duty following talks to address their grievances. Staff at the Free State Psychiatric Complex had downed tools Monday morning claiming lack of support and adequate protection in the face of COVID-19. Although labour unions remained tight-lipped on the outcome of the crisis talks held to resolve the industrial action at the mental health facility, saying there are issues to be finalised Tuesday, the provincial health department last night said the striking workers had agreed to return…