Author: The Free Stater

The Cheetahs and Lions played to a 44-44 draw in a high-scoring Currie Cup encounter in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night. Both teams scored six tries as the lead changed hands several times. The Lions, trailing by 44-41 shortly before full-time, were camped on the Cheetahs tryline but couldn’t force their way over for a try. After winning several penalties, they opted to go for goal to level matters. There was enough time for a restart but neither team could hang on to the ball and had to settle for a draw. The Cheetahs led 23-17 at half-time. Both teams played…

Staff Reporter A 40-year-old man accused of instigating the violent protests and looting that rocked South Africa recently has appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court following his arrest in the Free State. Phineas Letsoalo, aged 40, made his appearance on Wednesday facing charges relating to incitement to commit public violence. He was remanded in custody and is due back in court on 18 August for a formal bail application. Letsoalo was arrested on Monday by members of the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State Unit, Free State Crime Intelligence and the Tactical Response Team. “In an intelligence-led investigation, the team managed to…

President Cyril Ramaphosa, testifying at a graft inquiry on Wednesday, said he chose to “remain but resist” rather than resign as deputy president when allegations of widespread corruption surfaced under his predecessor Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa, Zuma’s number two from May 2014 to February 2018, has made the fight against corruption a pillar of his presidency, though opposition parties have criticised him for not doing enough to stop the rot during his time as deputy. Appearing for the second time at an inquiry probing allegations of graft during Zuma’s nine years in power, Ramaphosa said the first option available to him…

Staff Reporter The Free State High Court has ruled that the business rescue practitioners of the Gupta-owned company Islandsite have the legal standing to represent the company in legal proceedings and not the directors of the company. This comes after the NPA’s Investigating Directorate (ID) brought a successful application to restrain the assets of Iqbal Sharma, his company Nulane Investments 204 (Pty) Ltd as well as Islandsite Investments 180 (Pty) Ltd which belongs to Atul and Rajesh Gupta and their wives, Chetali and Arti Gupta, in June 2021. Judge President Musi, in an order delivered electronically on Wednesday, confirmed the…

Staff Reporter Suspended ANC secretary general and former Free State premier Ace Magashule is expected to appear in the Free State High Court today together with several co-accused for a pre-trial conference for a corruption case emanating from a failed asbestos audit and removal project in the province. Magashule and his 15 co-accused who include five companies face over 70 charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. The case comes from a contract worth over R255 million to audit and remove asbestos roofing on houses across the province which was allegedly irregularly awarded. The other accused in the matter are:…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Education says learner registration for Grade R and Grade 1 as well as Grade 8 for the 2022 academic year has been extended to the end of August. The initial registration period which opened at the beginning of April was due to end on July 31. In a statement, the provincial education department said the extension of the registration period had been necessitated by the latest adjustment in the school calendar which saw schools closing earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to unforeseeable circumstances of school term dates changing emanating from the…

Staff Reporter Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has condemned the killing of a family of five at a farm in the eastern Free State, calling it a barbaric act. In a statement, the minister said she had learnt with shock of the killing of the family at Toekoms Farm just outside Harrismith which was discovered on Saturday. “I . . . call upon the law-enforcement agencies to work around the clock to arrest whoever has done this gruesome act,” she said. Didiza emphasised safety in farming communities is of paramount importance, as farmers play a very…

Staff Reporter Free State police have launched a manhunt for an unknown number of assailants believed to be behind the killing of a family of five at Toekoms Farm just outside Harrismith. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement the gruesome killing was discovered by a traditional healer who visited the family on Saturday morning. The traditional healer, according to Makhele, had an appointment with the family. “On arrival apparently the traditional healer noticed that the door was not locked,” said Makhele. “He knocked on the door but there was no answer. He waited outside for a…

Staff Reporter The town of Brandfort in the Free State will be renamed Winnie Mandela after the late struggle icon. Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa gazetted the name change on Friday. This, according to the notice, was in terms of Section 10 (2) of the South African Geographical Names Council Act (Act No 118 of 1998). Winnie Mandela was banished to the small farming town at the height of the oppressive apartheid system and spent about eight years there between 1977 and 1985. She was not allowed to leave the town and her movements were closely monitored by apartheid…

Staff Reporter Several schools in the Free State remained open in December last year to allow Grade 11 learners to finish the syllabus and prepare for their final year in high school. Education MEC Tate Makgoe said this had to be done in some schools in order to make up for lost time when schools were forced to close for several months last year in a bid to curb the spread of the coronovirus. Makgoe, who was speaking during a visit to schools in Mangaung by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday, said the matric class of this year,…