Author: The Free Stater

The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed another outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the town of Hertzogville, about 140km northwest of Bloemfontein. A statement issued by the department said this is in addition to current FMD outbreaks in Viljoenskroon, Marquard, Bethlehem and Harrismith. The department said it is implementing all measures possible to bring the disease under control in the areas the disease was initially reported. “This latest outbreak was brought to our attention following an unsuccessful attempt by a farmer from Hertzogville to participate in a livestock auction that took place in Christiana…

Two people have been confirmed missing in Jagersfontein following the collapse of a tailings dam at a local mine last Sunday. The latest victim has been confirmed as Shadrack Williams, 70. Initially, only one woman, Mantele Mokgatle, 50, could not be accounted for. The office of Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela said in a statement she was advised of the latest missing person when she returned to the disaster-stricken town on Friday to assess progress made by the government to rebuild the livelihoods of the people whose houses and properties were destroyed in the mud and water flood from the…

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bethlehem has launched a manhunt for a couple believed to have duped several people in an alleged bogus investment scheme two years ago. The Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo said Albert David Titus and Bonolo Millicent Titus are persons of interest in the failed scheme and appealed to the public to assist in locating them. The victims are believed to have lost over half-a-million rands. “It is alleged that in 2020, the victims invested their money into a bogus investment scheme with a promise of getting interest return after a…

  I am sure that you are aware of the limitation of two proxies per physical person attending a sectional title meeting. But are you aware that both the giver and receiver of the proxy must sign the proxy? The reality of the situation is that it is near impossible to get properly signed proxies when one needs to authorise someone to act on their behalf. Obviously, this was thought up by some government official that has nothing better to do. My understanding is that it was put into place to avoid one or more of a small number of…

More than two years after the once-famous Bloemfontein Zoo was shut down, 11 buffaloes that are still enclosed at the facility have been forgotten and are facing an uncertain future. The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, which owns the condemned park, did not make any provisions for the upkeep of the animals in its 2022/23 budget. The Free State capital’s acting municipal manager, Tebogo Motlashuping, says the municipality – which is under national administration due to financial mismanagement, service delivery failures, governance violations and infighting – has no clear plan on the future of the abandoned animal facility. “There is no clear…

Eskom has lost bulk supply to Centlec, the electricity distributor responsible for Jagersfontein, the national power utility said. A statement issued by Eskom provincial spokesperson Stefanie Jansen van Rensburg says the wall of a mining dam which burst around 6am this Sunday morning led to the area being flooded by mud from the dam. “Eskom’s Rietkuil Substation was also engulfed by the mud resulting in a total loss of bulk supply to Centlec,” she said in the statement. In addition, four Eskom customers on the Fauresmith-Spitskop feeder, three customers on the Pompie-Rietkuil feeder and the Jagersfontein Mine are without supply. “We…

At least 20 people have been rushed to hospital while houses and cars have been damaged in Jagersfontein after a mine dam burst early Sunday morning flooded several areas in the small mining town, which lies about 110km southwest of provincial capital Bloemfontein. Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela expressed shock at the incident which happened around 6am and has promised assistance to those affected. “The incident has swept away houses and cars – however, the provincial government has activated the disaster management team and the Joint Operation Centre to determine the extent of the disaster and also carry out evacuation…

There are many ways of getting into property, including as an investment, a career or business. The most usual route is to become an investor in property. We have discussed the pros and cons of investing in property in previous articles. It is important to understand, particularly with your first property, that you need to have the means to maintain and pay for your building if you have challenges such as vacancies, especially in the early years. As you buy more properties the risk is spread. Imagine owning one property and it stands vacant – that is a 100 percent…

The Free State High Court has postponed the Nulane Investments matter to September 27 to hear an interlocutory application brought by three of the accused in the matter. In a statement, Investigating Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said Dinesh Patel, Islandsite Investment, represented by Ronica Ragavan, and Ronica Ragavan in her personal capacity have indicated they want to bring an interlocutory application before their case goes on trial next year. Patel also notified the court that he will bring an application to have his bail conditions relaxed. The court further postponed the matter against all the accused to November 3 for…

The Bloemfontein Magistrates Court has sentenced a 37-year-old man from Rocklands to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment after he was convicted of rape and attempted murder. Magistrate Carman Parks sentenced Thapelo Jeremiah Sekhau for the rape and attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend about four years ago. National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said Sekhau was convicted of raping the complainant on September 28, 2018 and attempting to kill her a few months earlier on April 1, 2018. The court heard that in April 2018, the complainant was on her way home after knocking off from work and met Sekhau…