Author: The Free Stater

It is becoming increasingly difficult for institutions of higher learning in South Africa to maintain the delicate balancing act of finding sustainable funding solutions amid mounting pressures caused by rapidly altering learning and teaching environments, dwindling government subsidies and the massification of higher education. And uncontrolled, violent student protests might just be the final blow that sends many tertiary institutions over the precipice. There is no doubt that student protests have over the years played a vital part in South Africa’s journey towards and maturation as a democracy. During the anti-apartheid struggle, student organisations such as NUSAS, SASO and later…

This is not the first time I am talking about the importance of owning your own property and I am not about to say something contradictory. I will just state facts as they are. Many people think that owning a house and renting it out is a good investment – sorry to let you know that it is not. Sure, there are people who can make money out of buying and selling houses but this is only where you can buy a bargain such as at a sheriff’s auction, fix it up yourself and resell it at a good profit.…

Staff Reporter The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed, with costs, former president Jacob Zuma’s latest attempt to have charges against him in the long-standing arms deal case dropped. Zuma, through his legal team, approached the SCA after failing to convince the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg to have the lead prosecutor in the corruption case, Advocate Billy Downer, removed from the trial, claiming he had “no title to prosecute”. If successful, Zuma sought to immediately apply for acquittal in the matter. But in a letter dated March 30, 2022, the SCA registrar said the matter has no prospects…

Staff Reporter The official unemployment rate in the Free State dropped 1.4 percentage points from 38.1 percent to 36.7 percent between the third and fourth quarters of 2021, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has revealed. This means the province now has over 727 000 people who are employed compared to the third quarter which had 720 000 people. The Free State has a population of about 2.9 million people. In its Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Stats SA said the expanded unemployment figure for the province — which includes discouraged jobseekers — fell by 1.6 percentage points from 45.8 percent in the third…

Staff Reporter Eskom says failure by several Free State municipalities to settle their debts for bulk electricity supplies on time is making it difficult for the national power utility to deliver services to the province. A statement released by Eskom on Monday says 16 Free State municipalities, including Mangaung Metropolitan, owe Eskom R16 billion for services rendered, as at the end of February 2022. Eskom says although the municipalities receive government grants as well as payment for services rendered from their customers, the amount remains unpaid for the consumed energy. Eskom general manager for the central-east cluster – KwaZulu-Natal and…

Staff Reporter The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the Free State High Court has dismissed with costs all interlocutory applications brought by suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and three co-accused in the asbestos corruption case. NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said in a brief statement late Monday that they welcomed the judgment and will now focus on ensuring that the pretrial conference is concluded on the next court date in June so that a trial date can be arranged. “We have always maintained that all the matters raised by the accused should be ventilated by the trial court when the trial…

Staff Reporter A suspected drug peddler was arrested this Monday after he was found in possession of dagga in the Ashbury area of Heidedal in Bloemfontein. The 31-year-old got himself in further trouble when he allegedly attempted to buy his freedom with a R100 bribe that he offered to the police officers who nabbed him. He is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Wednesday facing drug dealing and corruption charges. In a statement, Mangaung Metro police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane said the suspect was arrested during a crime prevention operation conducted by officers from Heidedal Police…

The Free Stater has unveiled its fresh new look in a move aimed at bolstering the online publication’s position as the Free State province’s most influential and credible news source.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has confiscated R18 million that was allegedly stolen by Lesotho government officials from state coffers and transferred to South African banks.

There are all sorts of sectional title buildings and they vary hugely.