Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter The two men charged with the murder of a Free State farm manager in October last year have been acquitted by the Free State High Court sitting in Bethlehem at the end of their trial on Friday. The state initially withdrew murder charges against Sekwetje Mahlamba, 32 and Sekola Matlaletsa, 44, on Thursday after admitting it had no case against them in the killing of Brendin Horner, 21, who managed DeRots Farm in Paul Roux. This followed a dismal delivery of evidence by most of the state witnesses who contracted each other and literally destroyed the case against…

Staff Reporter The late Sesotho author Dr Kgotso Pieter Maphalla has been posthumously awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (Gold) for his contribution to literature spanning several decades. The Order of Ikhamanga is awarded to individuals who have excelled in the field of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport. The golden category recognises exceptional achievement in the field. The award was received by his son, Setjhaba, at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane on Thursday where President Cyril Ramaphosa conferred several orders to other distinguished individuals including gospel musician Rebecca Malope. “We honour the writers who have…

Staff Reporter The Free State High Court has ordered that the unlimited restraint order against the controversial Gupta family, their alleged associate Iqbal Sharma and their companies be extended to March next year. According to a statement from the Investigating Directorate (ID), the court ruled that the order against Sharma, his two companies Nulane Investments 204 (Pty) Ltd and Issar Global Limited, as well as Islandsite Investments 180 (Pty) Ltd owned by Atul and Rajesh Gupta and their wives, Chetali and Arti, will remain in place until March 16, 2022. “The provisional restraint order has been extended . . .…

Staff Reporter University of the Free State (UFS) award-winning scientist Emmie Chiyindiko is working on an ambitious project that could vastly improve solar energy efficiency under long periods of limited sunshine at a third of the current cost. Chiyindiko, who came second when she pitched her research idea at the Falling Walls Science Summit held in Germany recently, told The Free Stater her project could bring solar energy to the over one billion people who have no access to electricity across the world. “My research in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) with special metal complexes is among the most interesting alternatives…

Life Mokone Having read the document as circulated through various chain messaging, one was hoping that the document was released prematurely. It seemed to me that the document probably was the first draft. This was because it was difficult to believe that such a document could have been signed off by the national leadership. It was until I saw it as an attachment by the deputy secretary general of the ANC, Jessie Duarte, that I was dumbfounded. There are a few reasons why it was difficult to immediately believe that the criteria is certifiable or final. The reasons are deliberated…

Staff Reporters The ANC Youth League Free State Provincial Congress Preparatory Committee says 10 young men and women under the age of 35 are vying for positions as mayors in different municipalities across the province. In a statement, the interim provincial youth body said the youths will be undergoing interviews together with other candidates and were confident they would make the grade. “Processes of candidate selection are important activities that must be undertaken to ensure that we get the best candidates possible to address our current weaknesses . . . local government,” read part of the statement. “Among the key…

Staff Reporter A professor of applied mathematics at the University of the Free State (UFS)’s Institute for Groundwater Studies, Abdon Atangana, is the best mathematician in the world, according to a list recently published by Stanford University. Atangana, who has been elected a fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), was also listed number 186 in the world in all science fields and number one in Africa in the sciences on the same list. “The fact that an African name appears on top of the list in mathematics is a clear indication that our small effort and contribution also…

Staff Reporter The Free State’s most popular baby names of 2020 have been revealed. According to a Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) report on live births released on Friday, Lethabo emerged as the most common first name for boys in the province with 525 registered last year, while Amohelang topped the girls’ list at 363. The top 10 first names for boys in the Free State include Amohelang in second place with 400, followed by Katleho with 355, Letlotlo 328, Kamohelo 271, Bokang 269, Lesedi 268, Omolemo 266, Bokamoso 253 and Atlehang 248. For girls in the province, Amohelang is…

Staff Reporter A total of 145 babies born to girls aged 14 and below were registered in the Free State in 2020, as cases of early pregnancy and motherhood remain alarmingly high in South Africa. According to a Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) report on live births released on Friday, last year the country recorded 3 183 births by mothers aged between 10 and 14 years. KwaZulu-Natal with 640 accounted for the highest number of births among that age group, followed by Limpopo with 536, the Eastern Cape 517, Gauteng 419, Mpumalanga 357, the Western Cape 304 and the North-West 176.…

Staff Reporter A Free State businesswoman has been ordered to pay back over R40.4 million that her small loans business owes to the state-owned Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA). The entrepreneur, Margaretha Aletta Notley, was sued in her capacity as surety and co-principal debtor of Retmil Financial Services (Pty) Ltd, a registered company based in Bloemfontein that gives out loans to small, medium and macro enterprises (SMMEs). SEFA, on the other hand, is in the business of lending loans to other on-lenders at a minimal interest rate who then in turn lend loans to SMME businesses and charge interest. On…