Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Detectives in the Free State are looking for victims of an alleged fake attorney who defrauded a number of clients promising to help them get their cases resolved. Police believe several people in and around Kroonstad could have fallen for a scam by Ernest Mpho Sejake, 33, who claimed to be a lawyer and could represent them in court. He has since been arrested and remains in custody to allow for more investigations. He is expected back in the Kroonstad Magistrates Court on May 3. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement the suspect previously…

Staff Reporter Free State health authorities say there is a surge in the number of new COVID-19 infections since the end of the Easter break two weeks ago. Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said in a statement the large gatherings over the Easter weekend at churches, funerals and places of entertainment could be a major contributor to the latest spike in new cases. “There have been new cases at schools after reopening as well as family clusters in Rocklands,” he said. As of April 19, the province recorded 181 new cases. At least 41 of the cases were in Mangaung…

Staff Reporter Mangaung Metro Municipality has received an unqualified audit report for the 2019/2020 financial period. The office of the Auditor General released a report on the performance of the municipality last Friday in which it stated that the municipality has improved in terms of the quality financial reports submitted. The AG was also satisfied with the quality of both the financial and non-financial report of the municipality. Mangaung was placed under administration by the Free State provincial government in December 2019 in an attempt to help it improve its operations and draw up a financial recovery plan. The municipality…

Staff Reporter A 49-year-old man has been handed a life sentence by the Edenburg Regional Court for raping a teenage girl about three years ago. Molahlehi Ramatekwane was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old girl after he found her playing on the street with a ball while on her way home. The incident happened on September 16, 2018 at about 7pm. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement Ramatekwane acted as if he wanted to play with the victim before kicking the ball into a dilapidated house close by. “They both went into the house to look…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Education and the Presidency have described as unfounded and misleading allegations that the former awarded a multimillion-rand contract to Shanduka Foundation to build two schools in the province without going to tender. In two separate statements released over the weekend, the provincial education department and the Presidency said a story published by The Star newspaper last week claiming criminal charges had been laid against President Cyril Ramaphosa – as a former chairperson of Shanduka Foundation – was misleading and erroneous because the schools were built under a matched funding partnership. The Presidency went…

We have previously spoken about buying prices and how to buy at the right price. We also spoke about overpaying for a property – yes it really does happen. What I would like to talk about today is making sure you don’t over price when selling. One of the major jobs of an estate agent is to give buyers and sellers advice. They give advice that is good for the buyer or seller rather than what they would like to hear. Far too often, estate agents will inflate the price just to be able to get a listing. Sales agents…

Staff Reporter Setsoto Local Municipality executive mayor Komane Koalane has been booted out of office in a vote of no confidence. He was voted out on Wednesday through a secret ballot following a motion brought by the United Front of Civics, a minority party with three representatives in the 33-seat council. The motion was reportedly supported by other opposition parties but it is not clear if some members of the majority ANC, which boasts 21 seats, could have voted with them. The DA has five seats in the council while the EFF has three and the Freedom Front Plus has…

Staff Reporter Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) says it will train at about 44 youths in the Free State this year in different aspects of its operations in order to give them workplace experience. The company says the Pivotal Programme Intake for 2021 is part of its efforts to create inclusive growth opportunities for communities, particularly for women and the youth. In a statement, CCBSA says it will provide learnership opportunities across key areas of the business, specifically commercial sales, manufacturing and technical packaging and logistics which includes warehousing. “These are unemployed learnerships where individuals are given the opportunity to…

Staff Reporter The ANC has asked all provinces to submit names of leaders who have been implicated in corrupt and other criminal activities with a view to forcing them to step aside until their cases are finalised. The move is in line with a resolution of the party’s 54th National Conference held in December 2017. However, a letter sent out by ANC secretary general Ace Magashule following a recent NEC meeting seems to have broadened the scope of the suspensions to include those yet to be charged. In the letter dated April 9, 2021, and addressed to all provincial secretaries,…

Staff Reporter The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed with costs an appeal by former president Jacob Zuma against a judgment of the North Gauteng High Court, which previously ruled that the state is not liable for legal costs that he incurred in his personal capacity. This means Zuma might now have to pay back to the state about R25 million for his legal fees. The case dates back to 2006 when his then legal team, Hulley Inc, asked the state attorney, on behalf of Zuma, for legal assistance in his criminal cases in which he faced two counts…