Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Two students from Central University of Technology (CUT)’s Bloemfontein campus have tested positive for COVID-19, the institution has confirmed. This brings to four the total number of coronavirus cases at the university since the outbreak of the acute respiratory disease in the country. The latest cases will however not disrupt lectures and other business at the institution as the two have been studying from home owing to the restrictive national lockdown regulations. “Both students were studying from home and thus did not come into contact with the campus or any other students,” CUT said in a statement issued…

Staff Reporter Eskom has suspended the planned power cuts to Masilonyana Local Municipality which were set to start today after it received some payment towards the debt which is R70 million in arrears. In a statement, the electricity supplier said the power cuts which would have affected the towns of Theunissen, Brandfort, Winburg and Verkeerdevlei will now be put on hold as further discussions are held to come up with a long-term solution. “Eskom is pleased to announce that the contemplated restriction of electricity supply to Masilonyana Local Municipality in the Free State has been suspended,” read part of the…

Staff Reporter Two researchers from the University of the Free State (UFS) have been nominated for the Science Oscars for their outstanding work and contributions to science over the years. The university said plant sciences research fellow, Professor Zakkie Pretorius, and the director for the Centre for Environmental Management, Professor Paul Oberholster, were nominated for the 2019/2020 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) – South32 Awards. Pretorius was nominated in two categories; the Special Annual Theme Award: Research and Development and Innovation in Plant Health as well as the Lifetime category. The Special Annual Theme Awards are presented in recognition…

Staff Reporter Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and his wife Nolwandle have tested positive for COVID-19, the Presidency has announced. According to the Presidency, the minister received his results earlier today after having undergone three rounds of tests since the outbreak of the virus. “Minister Mantashe and Mrs Mantashe are currently in isolation and the minister will continue to work from home,” the Presidency said in a statement this evening. “The minister remains committed to a course of ensuring security of energy and petroleum products supply to society during this difficult period and beyond. “The minister has directed…

Staff Reporter A Free State man suspected of double murder has been on the run since he escaped from police custody 15 years ago. But the police have not given up. Detectives in Bethlehem have launched a public appeal to help them track down the suspect, Thapelo Samuel Mokoena, who together with four accomplices allegedly killed a farmer and her employee in the eastern Free State town in 2004. The fugitive, who sometimes uses the surname Mlangeni, is believed to be from Matsikeng in QwaQwa. In a statement issued Tuesday, provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the suspect was…

Staff Reporter Schools will remain open – at least for now – even though South Africa is now approaching the COVID-19 peak, the Department of Basic Education has said. With pressure mounting from unions, political parties, activists and parents to immediately close schools as the country’s coronavirus cases continue to rise, the department issued a statement Tuesday evening saying only cabinet could decide on the matter. “The decision on whether schools will be closed or not will be taken by cabinet,” read part of the statement, released following a special meeting of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) hosted by…

Staff Reporter A few years of stormy battles with her little daughter each time she had to take her to the salon for a hairdo could have been a blessing in disguise for Bloemfontein mother Naledi Diradingwe who recently opened a hair salon exclusively for kids. Tiny Fros Salon, situated at Bloem Plaza in the city centre, opened its doors on July 7. Diradingwe, who prefers to call herself a mumpreneur, is excited about her venture and she says business is promising. “I noticed there was a gap in the market because I used to struggle with my daughter each…

Staff Reporter Temperatures in some parts of the Free State could drop to as low as -8 °C Wednesday before the weather gradually starts improving later in the week, the South Africa Weather Service (SAWS) has warned. SAWS forecaster Axinia Sethabela told The Free Stater that the minimum temperature in Ficksburg could be as low as -8 °C with a chance of frost in several parts of the province. “We have issued a warning for heavy frost as temperatures are expected to drop significantly tomorrow,” Sethabela said. She said big temperature drops were also expected in Bloemfontein and Fouriesburg which…

Staff Reporter A woman who became a neighbour to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela when she was banished to the rural town of Brandfort in the Free State has described the late struggle icon’s daughter Zindziswa, who passed away Monday morning, as a friendly and loving person. Nora Nomafa Moahlodi, 78, told The Free Stater by telephone that news of Zindzi’s passing had devastated her and all she could immediately do was to go through her photo collection and savour the fine moments she once shared with the Mandela family in Brandfort. “When we heard . . . through the news this morning, the first…

Tributes are pouring in following the news of the passing of Zindzi Mandela, whose death was confirmed by the Mandela family on Monday. The daughter of anti-apartheid activists Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zindzi was the younger sister of Zenani Mandela and the third of former president Nelson Mandela’s three daughters. At her time of death at a Johannesburg hospital, Zindzi, 59, was South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark. ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe, speaking on SABC News, said the governing party was saddened by the sudden passing of Zindzi. “Many would remember her for the infamous letter that came from…