Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Convicted wife killer Jason Thomas Rohde has had his 20-year sentence for killing his wife reduced by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to 15 years after it was found the trial court erred by departing from the prescribed jail term. The SCA however dismissed his appeal against conviction and he is now expected to present himself to prison authorities to start serving his sentence. Rohde was convicted on November 8, 2018 by the Western Cape High Court on two counts, namely, the murder of his wife, Susan Francis Rohde, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.…

Staff Reporter A captive lion breeder in the Glen farming area, just outside Bloemfontein, is being sued by the SPCA for animal negligence after 30 lions suffered severe burns following a veld fire and had to be put down to save them from continued pain. The farmer cannot be named at this stage as the matter is yet to be heard in court. SPCA Bloemfontein senior inspector Reinet Meyer told The Free Stater by telephone that the owner showed very little care for the lions and they had to take the legal route to access the farm. “He didn’t seem…

Staff Reporter Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo has been appointed the national spokesperson for the priority crime investigating unit, the Hawks. She takes over from Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi who resigned in November last year after he was implicated in a R3 million ‘scandal’ involving his non-profit organisation and the National Lottery Commission. Mbambo, who officially assumed her new role this week, told The Free Stater that she was excited and looking forward to use her expertise to promote the work of the Hawks, also known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. “Every elevation within the ranks comes…

Staff Reporter Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela has appointed Mxolisi Abraham Dukwana the new Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. A statement issued Friday by Ntombela’s spokesperson Sello Pietersen said the appointment is with immediate effect. Dukwana, who was sworn in as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) on September 28, replaces Thembeni Skully Nxangisa who has been moved to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Agriculture MEC William Kwekwe Bulwane takes over from Malambule Samuel Mashinini – who is now out of the provincial cabinet – as the MEC for Police…

When I started working in 1975 my salary was R300 per month and my wife earned R350. I can recall that my bond on our house was R350, but that is where we started. We literally had a bed, wire garden furniture as a dining room table and a second-hand stove. That was it. We had to put the light out when we got dressed because we had no curtain. But nearly half a century later we own a number of properties, run a very successful and growing business, have no debt and as a result we can spoil ourselves…

Staff Reporter South Africa has moved from Adjusted Alert Level 2 to Adjusted Alert Level 1 of the COVID-19 lockdown with effect from midnight. This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised address on Thursday evening following meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet. He said the South African COVID-19 Modelling Consortium confirmed a few days ago that the country has emerged from a third wave of COVID-19 infections, dominated by the Delta variant. “The current trends in the progression of the pandemic mean that a number of the restrictions in place…

Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 2000 hours on Thursday evening, on developments in the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement issued by the Presidency says Ramaphosa’s address follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet. South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were eased from adjusted Alert Level 3 to Level 2 mid-September following a sustained decline in infections over several weeks. Since then, the figures have continued to drop on the back of increased vaccinations, hence the anticipated adjustment. On Friday, the government will launch the Vooma Vaccination…

Staff Reporter University of the Free State (UFS) rector and vice-chancellor Professor Francis Petersen says South Africa’s high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment should not be used to justify violent crime, particularly against students. Petersen said this during a media briefing on Wednesday to outline measures being implemented to improve student security both on and off-campus following a robbery which claimed the lives of two UFS students in QwaQwa last week. The students, who were studying at the QwaQwa campus, rented rooms at Botjhabela Village near Phuthaditjhaba. They were having drinks with others when they were allegedly attacked and…

Staff Reporter Free State Agriculture and Rural Development MEC William Bulwane is expected to visit Rauch Austin’s Post Farm in Edenburg on Thursday as part of an outreach programme to farmers who have been affected by the recent veld fires. The veld fires caused extensive damage to an estimated 70 000 hectares of grazing land. Most of the affected farmers are in Thaba Nchu, Koffiefontein, Jacobsdal, Petrusburg, Fauresmith, Korronstad, Soutpan, Bultfontein, Bainsvlei and Edenburg. The department’s spokesperson, Zimasa Leputla, said in a statement Bulwane will provide support to the farmers by handing over fodder as well as bags of protein-based…

Staff Reporter Free State police have launched an investigation to establish if three suspects who were overpowered by one of the men they were trying to rob in QwaQwa on Monday could be linked to another robbery which left three students dead in the same area last week. One of the alleged robbers was injured after his gun went off during a tussle with the victim. He then shot and injured the other suspect after he took control of the firearm. “I have instructed the investigating team to look into the possible involvement of this group in the shooting of…