Author: The Free Stater

The events management company that was appointed to organise this year’s edition of the Macufe Festival says it has appealed a ruling by the Free State High Court which terminated the multi-million-rand contract. On Monday, Judge Phillip Loubser declared that the decision by the provincial Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (DSACR) to engage C-Squared to run annual musical gala was unlawful. The reasons for the ruling will be given on Thursday. In a statement released on Tuesday, C-Squared said it had noted the court outcome which nullified its appointment but felt the judge erred in arriving at such…

The Free State High Court has annulled the event management contract awarded to a local company by the provincial Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (DSACR) to organise the annual Macufe Festival. Judge Phillip Loubser did not give reasons for his decision when he ruled on Monday that the appointment of C-Squared to arrange this year’s edition of the event – officially scheduled to run from 2-9 October – was unlawful and should therefore be set aside. “The decisions . . . to award tender SCM/Macufe 01/22 to the second respondent is hereby reviewed, declared unlawful and set aside,”…

The Central University of Technology (CUT) has appointed Professor Pamela Dube as vice-chancellor and principal with effect from January 1 next year. Dube is presently serving as deputy vice-chancellor for student development and support at the University of Western Cape. In a statement released Monday, the CUT described Dube as an accomplished academic who is bringing her vast knowledge and experience in the higher education sector to the Free State institution. The university said she has demonstrated her ability to build partnerships and lead strategic engagements in various levels, including student leadership development support initiatives. “Prof Dube has initiated effective…

The recent 75 basis points increase in interest rates is not likely to be the last this year as South Africa is forced to follow interest rates in the United States. A similar increase can be expected by the end of the year. The reason South Africa needs to follow this overseas trend is that unless we match these increases, the rand value will plummet. The SA currency is trading at over R18 to the US dollar compared to less than R15 only a few months ago. Presently, investors are not encouraged to invest in South Africa because of its…

Former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning with two others on charges pertaining to the R280-million Estina dairy farm project. Zwane, former Sahara employee Ugeshni Govender and former Islandsite director Ronica Ragavan are facing charges of fraud, theft, corruption, money laundering. Investigating Directorate (ID) spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka says the arrests arise from the alleged looting of the Free State Department of Agriculture coffers through a company called Estina about 10 years ago. It is the state’s case that on July 5, 2012, Estina (Pty) (Ltd) entered into an agreement with the department…

Reports coming from Jagersfontein say another tailings dam wall has collapsed at the Jagersfontein Mine, about 110km northwest of Bloemfontein. A similar disaster occurred at the same mine about two weeks ago, displacing thousands of people and destroying several houses with one person dying. The extent of the latest mishap is yet to be determined. The SABC quotes Kopanong Local Municipality mayor Xolani Tseletsele as saying the situation could have been as result of earlier heavy downpours in the area. Muddy water from the collapsed dam is said to be running through the neighbourhood of Charlesville and the nearby Dennis Louw’s…

The Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court has fined a businessman and his company after they were convicted of contravention of the Tax Administration Act. Magistrate Collen Nenkosie sentenced Itumeleng Ditsoane, 40, to a fine of R10 000 after he was convicted of seven counts of contravention of the Act. In a statement released on Tuesday, National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the sentence is wholly suspended for a period of three years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offense during the period of suspension. Ditsoane’s company, Ditsoane Trading and Projects Closed Corporation, was also found guilty on seven counts of…

Suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule on Friday walked out of the Free State High Court a frustrated man after the asbestos corruption case in which he is charged with 15 others was postponed to January 20 next year. Although the postponement was chiefly as a result of a petition that he and three co-accused are set to take to the Supreme Court of Appeal, Magashule claimed the long adjournment is aimed at excluding him from the party’s elective conference set for December. “It is deliberate because they want to exclude me from participation in the processes leading to Nasrec (the…

Sectional title schemes are usually designed as residential buildings and plans are submitted showing the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and lounges. Parking will be shown on the building plans as garages or carports. When buying into a sectional title scheme the buyer needs to understand that although they own the inside of the unit, they are not entirely free to do what they like with it. We know that as a residential unit the buyer can let it out to a tenant or live there themselves. In the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act, the covering law, there is no…

The former head of the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, two former municipal managers, a former supply chain director as well as two companies appeared before the Welkom Magistrates Court on Wednesday after they were charged for fraud, corruption, money laundering, contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and the Municipal Management Act. Tsoarelo Malakoane, 56, Monyane Sefantsi, 53, Eunice Aaron, 55, Lodewikus Celliers, 80, Georgia Thubane, 47, Lebogang Sebeela, 47, as well as two companies, Architect in Amalgamation and Architect Celliers Greyvenstein Close Corporation, are facing a total of 20 charges relating to a contract that…