Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has ordered the Eastern Cape High Court to hear an appeal by a man who was convicted and sentenced for murder after it threw out his appeal a few years ago. Lungisa Grifhs was convicted together with two erstwhile co-accused on November 28, 2018 in the Mthatha Regional Court on one count of murder. He was then sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment. Grifhs contested the judgement on the grounds that he was convicted on the evidence of a single witness. The regional court said at the time it found substantial and compelling…

Traditional medicine has been used for centuries and today it still has a vital role to play in healthcare and in improving the well-being of people across the globe. Celebrating African Traditional Medicine Day on 31 August each year shows the importance of traditional medicine – especially African traditional medicine – as part of the indigenous medical knowledge systems. In fact, traditional medicine is regarded so important that the African Union has decided to designate 31 August of each year for the recognition and celebration of African Traditional Medicines Day. More recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa CDC…

Staff Reporter Free State Social Development MEC Mamiki Qabathe has called for the establishment of more non-profit organisations (NPOs) that focus on emerging problems faced by society today, particularly young people. She said many children today grow up facing numerous challenges due to family and other circumstances resulting in some of them turning to crime and other social ills. “We should be agents for change and be able to introduce new NPOs that are relevant to our challenges,” said Qabathe. The MEC said this during the launch of two books written by two women from the Free State. The books…

Staff Reporter A 47-year-old pastor has been granted bail by the Kroonstad Magistrates Court after appearing on allegations of fraud, theft, money laundering and contravention of the Banks Act. Seth Malefetsane Radebe, who is a pastor at Sanctuary Haven Church in Kroonstad, was released on bail of R10 000 when he appeared in court on Tuesday. Radebe is facing a total of 16 counts and is being charged together with his three companies, namely Sanctuary Havens Properties, Rehabale Incorporated and Rethabise Premium. It is alleged that Radebe ordered his congregants to invest in his companies promising them to get a return…

Staff Reporter Free State police are looking for four unknown gunmen believed to be behind the murder of four family members on Monday night. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the four men allegedly entered a house at New Stands in Thabong, Welkom, at about 9pm. “Without any warning, the suspects fired random shots at the family members inside the house,” he said. Makhele said four of them were fatally wounded – these were two women aged 59 and 31 years old, a man aged 23 and a girl aged 10. Two boys aged six and nine years old…

Staff Reporter The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has expressed concern at the state of municipalities in the Free State, claiming there is probably no functional municipality in the province. EFF provincial chairperson Mandisa Makesini told a media briefing in Bloemfontein today that corruption was at the heart of the poor service delivery that has left many communities without access to basics such as water and sanitation. She said her party is ready to take on the ANC in the forthcoming local government elections and ensure people receive better services. “We are going toe to toe this local government election,”…

Staff Reporter Former University of the Free State student Louzanne Coetzee has won a silver medal in the 1 500m women’s T11 final at the Paralympics currently underway in Tokyo, Japan. Coetzee, who is blind, came second in a time of 4:40.96 when she ran on Monday and in the process set a new African record with the help of her guide Estean Badenhorst. “I have been competing for eight years and this is my first medal,” said an excited Coetzee in a statement released by the university. “I’m just overwhelmed. I couldn’t have asked for a better race, a…

Staff Reporter Leading female scientists and mathematicians in the Free State have expressed concern at the low uptake for maths and science subjects by women, saying this could result in them lagging behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Central University of Technology information technology department head Professor Muthoni Masinde, who was one of the three keynote speakers at the Charlotte Maxeke Women-in-STEM Lecture, said she is disappointed women are not taking up STEM-related subjects yet there are many opportunities for them. STEM stands for science, technology engineering and mathematics. “If women are going to make an impact in the Fourth Industrial…

Staff Reporter At least 34 people below the age of 18 have died as a result of COVID-19-related complications in the Free State over the past two years. The provincial health department says it discovered the deaths after analysing its list of casualties for 2020 and 2021 following the death of a Grade 8 learner at Kgotso Taole Secondary School in Botshabelo who succumbed to the disease. Spokesperson Mondli Mvambi told The Free Stater that the death of the learner which led to the discovery of the deaths of other minors in the province is an indication that no age…

Staff Reporter Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC William Bulwane believes the use of drones and digital trackers to monitor the movement of livestock could help improve security on the farms and allow emerging farmers to grow. According to the MEC, most farmers along the SA border with Lesotho have struggled with stock theft and farm attacks for a long time and he anticipates a new initiative launched by his department on Friday to reduce the high crime rate and allow farmers to focus more on their operations. “We felt it important to help farmers improve security…