Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter More sectors of South Africa’s economy are set to open after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday night that the country will be moving from Adjusted Alert Level 4 to Level 3 at midnight. In a televised national address, Ramaphosa said this followed recommendations from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 as well as input from the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet. He said the adjustment has been made possible by a steady decline in the daily infections which have dropped by about 20 percent. “The overall decline in new infections means that it is possible to gradually ease…

Staff Reporter The Bultfontein Regional Court has sentenced two men aged 20 and 17 years to life and 25 years imprisonment respectively after they were convicted of housebreaking with an intent to rape. Magistrate Nompumelelo Gusha sentenced James Tolela, 20, to life imprisonment and Morena Dasheka, 17, to 25 years imprisonment for breaking into a house of a 58-year-old woman and raping her. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement the complainant was alone at her home on April 14, 2018 when she saw the two men climbing through the window and forcing their way…

The cost of current and future maintenance for property is a big slug of levies that owners need to pay. Roofs are one item that is ongoing and expensive. When working out the 10-year reserve plan, it is essential to budget well for future repairs. At the very least you need to allow for the regular maintenance of valley gutters, replacement of flashings and sealing of ridge tiles. Not only can this be expensive to do but seldom looks good. We frequently come across body corporates where tiles are not of the quality that they need to be and it…

Staff Reporter Thousands of consumers in and around the town of Vrede have been without electricity since morning after a fire started by a farmer to create a fire break went out of control and destroyed Eskom infrastructure in the area. A statement issued by Eskom’s Titi Makhetha from the Free State regional office said over 5 000 consumers have been affected by the fault which occurred at about 8am on Thursday. “A fault on the Standerton-Vrede Munic 88 kV feeder has resulted in the loss of electricity supply to Vrede . . .” read part of the statement. “Eskom…

Staff Reporter The Johnson & Johnson vaccine currently being used in South Africa against COVID-19 is very safe as it underwent rigorous tests before being approved for use in the country, Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu said. “For vaccines to be used in South Africa, they go through a rigorous process and have to be registered by SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority) to prove that they are safe,” she told journalists during the official launch of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for Department of Correctional Services (DCS) officials and inmates for the central region at the Grootvlei Correctional…

Staff Reporter The Odendaalsrus Regional Court has sentenced a police officer to a total of 50 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to corruption, two counts of theft and defeating the ends of justice. Magistrate Nompumelelo Gusha sentenced Warrant Officer George Frederick de Bruin, 51, to 15 years for corruption, 15 years for theft of a SAPS laptop, 15 years for theft of a police docket and five years for defeating the ends of justice. National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement on Tuesday that De Bruin approached a man who was facing a charge of…

Staff Reporter The number of social workers and other staff in the Free State Department of Social Development coming down with COVID-19 could be drastically reduced in the near future as they have started receiving the vaccine for the deadly disease. Social Development MEC Mamiki Qabathe said this in an interview with The Free Stater during the launch of the vaccination programme in Bloemfontein on Monday. She said her department should start enjoying significant stability as those who may contract the coronavirus are expected to recover faster and spend more time at work. “So, now that they are getting vaccinated…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Education has announced that nominations for the annual National Teaching Awards (NTA) are now open. In a statement, the department said teachers in the province have until July 31 to enter the prestigious awards. “The Free State Department of Education encourages all teachers to enter the NTA,” said the provincial department in a statement. This year the awards have 15 categories after the national Department of Basic Education added three new segments, namely the National Best Teacher Awards, S/Hero Award and the Learner Awards. The other categories are: Grade R Teaching Primary School…

Staff Reporter Two suspects are expected to appear in court soon facing armed robbery charges after they were tracked by Petrus Steyn police following an attack on a tuckshop in Mamafubedu. All stolen items were recovered by the police within a few hours as well as an unlicensed firearm and ammunition allegedly used in the robbery. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the police received a complaint of a business robbery at about 1800 hours on Thursday. The tuckshop owner was robbed of three cellphones, an undisclosed amount of cash and groceries before they fled the scene on foot.…

Don’t think that it cannot happen here. There are rumours that it could also happen here again, like it did a few weeks ago. Hopefully not. But what should you do to prepare? Most importantly, make sure that your insurance is up to date. Nobody wants to find out afterwards that you have forgotten to pay and the insurance company does not pay out. Make sure that your insurance policy is paid up to date and paid out of an account that will not fall below the level required to pay the policy when it is due for payment. Sounds…