Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has described the late jazz maestro Tsepo Tshola as a genius who touched the lives of many with his music. Popularly known as the Village Pope, Tshola, 67, is one of the big names that graced the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE) since inception and drew large crowds. “Ntate Tsepo Tshola will be remembered as a musical genius whose music communicated the lived realities of the society in which we exist,” said MEC Limakatso Mahasa. “. . . he indeed became a voice for the voiceless and marginalised…

Staff Reporter A Free State grouping of political organisations, labour and a civic body has condemned the acts of violence, looting and general lawlessness witnessed in other parts of the country and called for calm and restraint. The Provincial Alliance Political Council represented by officials of the ANC, SA Communist Party, COSATU and the SA National Civic Organisation in the Free State issued a statement on Wednesday following a virtual meeting called to reflect on the violence gripping parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The member organisations urged communities to resist and desist from participating in what they called destructive acts…

Staff Reporter Gupta family ‘associate’ and former Transnet board member Iqbal Sharma has been granted R500 000 bail by the Free State High Court. He won his bid for freedom after his initial attempt was thrown out by the Bloemfontein Regional Court last month after the state labelled him a flight risk. But in a judgement delivered virtually on Wednesday, Judge Joseph Mhlambi ruled that Sharma was not a flight risk and that he was satisfied the accused had successfully proven this in his submissions. Mhlambi said while Sharma faced serious charges, he has the right to remain innocent until…

Staff Reporter Veld fires that began last week in different parts of the Free State have destroyed an estimated 70 000 hectares of grazing land. The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a statement the veld fires damaged game, livestock and buildings, amongst others. The most affected farmers are in Thaba Nchu, Koffiefontein, Jacobsdal, Petrusburg, Fourismith, Kroonstad, Soutpan, Bultfontein, Bainsvlei and Edenburg. In Tierpoort only it’s estimated that about 26 000 hectares of grazing land went up in smoke. “Farmers are urged to continue with maintaining proper fire breaks,” said the department. One farmer just outside…

Staff Reporter The Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) has distanced itself from a shutdown of the Free State capital said to be part of a national campaign calling for the release of jailed former president Jacob Zuma. In a statement, MCC secretary Keorapetse Koikoi dismissed the planned protest set for this week as a lawless campaign that could bring more suffering to residents. “Mangaung Concerned Community rejects with the contempt they deserve any attempts of bringing the lawlessness, chaos and anarchy visited on our shores,” said Koikoi. The MCC organised the May 17 shutdown which brought the city to a standstill…

Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned those involved in violent protests which started in KwaZulu-Natal a few days ago and have now spread to other parts of the country saying they will be met by the full might of the law. The protests which have seen property worth about R100 million destroyed in KZN alone, were started by people calling for the release of former president Jacob Zuma who was jailed for 15 months last week for contempt of court. The protests have also erupted in Gauteng and Mpumalanga where people have been looting businesses and attacking motorists. Ramaphosa…

Staff Reporter Restaurants, gyms and agricultural auctions have been given the green light to resume operations from tomorrow but South Africa will remain on Alert Level 4, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said. The new measures are expected to remain in place until July 25. In a televised national address on Sunday night, Ramaphosa said these establishments are expected to observe strict COVID-19 protocols as cases have remained high across the country. “Restaurants and eateries will be able to operate while observing strict health protocols,” he said. “Such establishments may not accommodate more than 50 people at a time or, for…

Staff Reporter Police from the Welkom K9 unit have arrested two foreign nationals at a farm where they were allegedly producing alcohol. The Provincial Counter Narcotics unit pounced on Dankbaar Farm near Welkom on Thursday following a tip-off about an illegal distillery operating there. “On arrival at the farm, two foreign national males aged 34 tried to flee but were arrested,” said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo in a statement. “They will be charged for Contravention of the Free State Liquor and Gambling Authority Act. SARS Customs Excise is likely to add other charges as investigation progresses,” she added.…

Staff Reporter A 37-year-old Zimbabwean man has appeared in the Smithfield Magistrates Court after being found in possession of suspected stolen property. Aaron Mukutirwa made his first appearance on Thursday before the matter was postponed to July 15 for further investigation. He was found with about 159kg of communication cables worth about R200 000. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said in a statement the suspect was arrested after an off-duty police officer raised alarm when he heard some noise outside his house at about 1am on Thursday. “A white Colt bakkie was seen loaded with cable and suspects were…

Staff Reporter The Free State High Court has reserved judgment in a bail application brought by former Transnet board member and Gupta family ‘associate’ Iqbal Sharma. The matter has been set down for July 14, when the judgment will be delivered. Sharma took his bail bid to the High Court today after the Bloemfontein Regional Court dismissed his application last month saying he was a flight risk. The state told court that Sharma had failed to disclose that he had transferred R264 459 241 to Issar Global based in the United Arab Emirates between 22 August 2016 and 8 December…