Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Social Development says it is closely watching the increase in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the Lejweleputswa district and is working with local authorities to address the situation. Social Development MEC Mamiki Qabathe told the Free State Legislature on Wednesday that the district has been identified as needing close attention due to the steady rise in GBV cases which have been worsened by the prevailing socio-economic conditions. “The department has . . . registered Lejweleputswa district, Welkom in particular, as deserving greater attention in responding to the increase in GBV cases in…

Staff Reporter Free State municipalities are now saddled with a collective electricity bill of nearly R13.6 billion as the local authorities are finding it difficult to collect more revenue from ratepayers, most of whom have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thembeni Nxangisa told the Free State Legislature when he delivered his 2021/22 budget vote speech in Botshabelo that municipalities are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver electricity, water and sanitation to communities as a result of the disease that has forced some businesses to shut down while others have scaled down operations.…

Staff Reporter The Supreme of Appeal (SCA) has set aside a ruling by the South Gauteng High Court in which it increased sentences against two men convicted of theft. Nhlanhla Arthur Kubheka, who is the first appellant, and Armstrong Ngidi, the second, were each convicted in the Randburg Magistrates Court on 12 October, 2017, on one count of theft of a cellular phone and an iPod out of a motor vehicle. On January 23, 2018, Kubheka, who is an engineer by profession, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, of which two years were suspended for a period of five years…

Staff Reporter A Clocolan man and his wife are behind bars after they were arrested on Sunday for allegedly selling dangerous drugs to a 12-year-old child. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said two off-duty police officers from the small farming town pursued the couple after receiving word that someone had just sold drugs to the minor. Makhele said the child’s parents and some community members responded swiftly and teamed up with the police officers as they followed up on the information to Extension 6 in Hlohlolwane, Clocolan. “The members searched the house and found dagga weighing 10kg and 27…

Staff Reporter The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has completed the verification of the beneficiaries of the Vrede dairy project following an order by the office of the Public Protector. Agriculture MEC William Bulwane revealed this when he delivered his budget vote speech for the 2021/2022 financial year during the provincial legislature’s sitting in Zastron Friday. “I am glad to announce that we have concluded the process of verifying the beneficiaries,” he said. “We can confirm that during that process, only 64 were verified positively. “I have also sent an official apology on behalf of the department…

Staff Reporter A 40-year-old man from Welkom has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Ficksburg Magistrates Court after he pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and one of theft. Magistrate Smith sentenced Tsietsi Thato Mofokeng for defrauding Imperani Guest House in Ficksburg and Frontier Hotel in Bethlehem between August and October 2020. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement that Mofokeng arrived at Imperani Guest House on August 21, 2020 and introduced himself as Daniel Sebiloane. “He told the guesthouse manager that he is a newly appointed magistrate at the Ficksburg Magistrates…

With Human Rights Day approaching, it is important to remember the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in the fight for our freedom. This year, I think it is also important to look inward, focus on individual healing, growth and reflect on the losses pre- and post-COVID-19. The strength and resilience of the Sharpeville community is an important reminder of the hardships we have to overcome. It is an important reminder that we can overcome even this challenge of the pandemic. But on this Human Rights Day our strength lies in our vulnerability and…

Staff Reporter The Free State is developing a new set of rules aimed at regulating participation in strategic sectors of the provincial economy which will see locals being prioritised in setting up businesses. The MEC for the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), Makalo Mohale, told the provincial legislature sitting in Zastron for his department’s budget vote speech that the master plans for identified sectors are expected to be finalised by July. “In response to the call for accelerated economic recovery in our province, we have developed a value chains economic transformation approach . .…

Every property has its price and it depends on a lot of factors, some of which are difficult to put into practice, but every buyer should be careful not to over pay for a property. But that is not to say you must not pay more than has been paid before, it is just that the extra price must be justified. Things that increase or decrease the value of a property could include any of the following: Position: Often thought as vital when buying a property. There is an old adage – position, position, position. Think about it. The actual…

Staff Reporter The crisis at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACOFS) which has culminated in the ongoing sit-in by disgruntled artists from across the province has been a long time coming as the Auditor General (AG) pointed to a host of issues that were not in order at the institution about three years ago. The AG, in a report dated August 2, 2019, gave PACOFS a disclaimer audit opinion for the 2018/2019 financial year citing insufficient information as the arts centre could not provide reliable invoices and other supporting documents on its operations to allow for an…