Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Free State police have confirmed they have opened a case against the organisers of a gathering by supporters of ANC secretary general Ace Magashule for breaching COVID-19 regulations. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele told The Free Stater by telephone that the organisers of the event will be charged for breaking the Disaster Management Act. “Yes indeed a case has been opened against the organisers of that event,” he said. Makhele said police could not disperse the crowd during Magashule’s appearance at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday as they found it risky as it could result in…

Staff Reporter The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has bemoaned the stringent controls at the Free State asbestos corruption case set to continue at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court this morning. The controls, according to court officials, are aimed at ensuring social distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols. “I believe there are challenges with regard to access to the court building and the courtroom,” says NPA spokesperson Sipho Ngwema. “Apparently, the magistrate has issued an instruction that only five media houses are allowed into the court building. “I don’t know what criteria was used. In fact, I believe that the courts…

Staff Reporter At least 11 people, including ANC secretary general Ace Magashule, are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court today for the continuation of the Free State asbestos corruption case after three more suspects were arrested yesterday. The three, who are yet to be named, have been described as government officials believed to have played a significant role in the R255-million audit corruption case. The case started towards the end of September last year with the arrests of Johannesburg businessman and owner of Blackhead Consulting (Pty), Pheagane Edwin Sodi, 47; head at the Free State Department of Human…

This week I would like to talk about peripheral issues that normally impact your ability to grow and possibly own property. People often say South Africa has problems with housing, roads, water and electricity. Well it does not really have problems with these. What it really does have is a problem of too many people trying to access these with no corresponding expansion. If we imagine that a family has four children and that life expectancy is 80 years then this means that the two parents become six people if they have four children in 20 years and 24 within…

Staff Reporter The state wants Mackenzie Ratselane who is accused of brutally attacking his wife following a domestic dispute to remain behind bars until the case is finalised. State prosecutor Advocate Sello Mahloko told the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court that the accused is a flight risk because he went into hiding soon after committing the offence. “The accused has already evaded justice and there are fears that if released on bail, he could abscond,” said the prosecutor. The defence said it would not contest the position of the state regarding bail. Mahloko requested a postponement of the case saying more witnesses…

Staff Reporter Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu and head of department Dr David Motau have taken the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as the province rolls out its implementation plan for healthcare workers and other key frontline staff. The two received the jabs at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein on Wednesday. “The Health MEC and the HOD felt the need to take the vaccine to give healthcare workers reasons to believe that there is nothing sinister about this vaccine because it has passed both the test of safety and efficacy,” said provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi in a…

Staff Reporter Mackenzie Ratselane who is facing a charge of attempted murder after he brutally attacked his wife during a domestic dispute is expected to appear in Bloemfontein Magistrates Court this morning. Ratselane, 39, the husband of Lesedi FM current affairs presenter Dimakatso Ratselane, was arrested on Tuesday while sleeping at a relative’s house in Ennerdale, Johannesburg, after playing hide-and-seek with the police following the incident last week. Free State investigators teamed up with members of the Soweto Flying Squad to arrest him after he went into hiding. Mackenzie, a former cop himself, made headlines after it emerged that he…

Staff Reporter Supporters of ANC secretary general Ace Magashule who is due to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday on corruption charges say they are not ashamed of their support for him because they know the case is politically motivated and is bound to fail. A group which calls itself Radical Economic Transformation (RET) forces says should Magashule, 61, be found guilty of failing to play his oversight role when he was the premier of the Free State, then all premiers in the country should be arrested because there is no province without a failed project. RET convenor…

Staff Reporter Some members of the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) have gathered at the Naval Hill in Bloemfontein to affirm their support for ANC secretary general Ace Magashule who is due to appear in court on Friday. The RET members say the charges against Magashule in the asbestos corruption case in which he is charged with several other people are politically motivated and bound to fail. The supporters, who include members of SANCO Free State and uMkhonto we Sizwe, among others, say they are also campaigning against those who want Magashule to step aside until his case is finalised in…

Staff Reporter The man accused of brutally attacking his wife in Bloemfontein last week following a domestic dispute and going on the run after leaving her for dead was arrested in Johannesburg this morning while still sleeping at a relative’s house. Mackenzie Ratselane, 39, the husband of Lesedi FM current affairs presenter Dimakatso Ratselane, was arrested while enjoying his sleep at his aunt’s house in Ennerdale, Johannesburg, following a tip-off. Free State investigators teamed up with members of the Soweto Flying Squad to effect the arrest. Mackenzie, a former cop himself, made headlines after it emerged that he had allegedly…