Author: The Free Stater

Staff Reporter Free State schools will now be responsible for procuring their own masks and other supplies for learners, teachers and administrative staff. The provincial education department says it has decentralised the procurement of the masks in order to avoid delays in the distribution of the protective equipment and also create job opportunities for the local communities. “Unlike other provinces in the country, we have decided to make the procurement of masks a responsibility of individual schools,” said Education MEC Tate Makgoe after visiting schools in Bloemfontein on Monday to check their level of readiness and monitor adherence to health…

Staff Reporter Free State police have obtained a warrant of arrest for the husband of Lesedi FM current affairs presenter Dimakatso Ratselane who was brutally attacked and left for dead during a suspected domestic dispute last week. Police say they have made several attempts to make contact with Mackenzie Ratselane after his wife was found by community members with multiple wounds on the south-eastern fringes of Bloemfontein on Thursday. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the step taken by the police was as a result of lack of cooperation by Mackenzie as he continues to evade them. “From today…

Staff Reporter Two suspects aged 34 and 40 were expected to appear before the Smithfield Magistrates Court today facing charges of fraud and stock theft after they duped a Free State farmer into believing they represented a leading commercial bank. This led the farmer to enter what he thought to be a lucrative deal involving about 1 300 sheep worth nearly R5-million. The meticulous crime, which spanned across three provinces, took the Wepener Police Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit two months to unravel. The police probe took place between the Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces between December 2020…

Staff Reporter The 2020 matric examinations were not compromised by the leaking of the Mathematics Paper 2 and the Physical Science Paper, an investigation by the national Department of Basic Education has found. Chairperson of the National Investigations Task Team (NITT) Hugh Amoore told a virtual media briefing that the integrity of the two exams was not compromised by the leaks because very few learners had access to the Maths paper while the Physical Science paper was replaced before the actual writing. “Investigations have found that there’s been no compromise to the integrity of the 2020 matric exams,” said Amoore…

Staff Reporter A QwaQwa police officer who bravely rescued a suicidal old woman from drowning in a flooded river and survived a potential snake attack has been showered with praises and given R5 000 cash as a token of appreciation by the provincial police management. What started as a normal work day for Constable Moleko Mabe from Phuthaditjhaba Police Station on Monday suddenly became dramatic when he and his colleague, Warrant Officer Mandla Mothap, heard on the police two-way radio that an elderly woman had been seen in a nearby flooded river by community members. The pair immediately drove to…

Staff Reporter The Kroonstad farmer who shot and fatally wounded three ‘assailants’ when he was allegedly attacked by four men at his farm on Thursday morning has been arrested for murder following some inconsistencies in his initial statement to the police. Pieter André Swart, 37, reportedly fought off the four men after they pounced on him as he came out of his house at Boskoppie Farm at about 7:20am. Swart is said to have told the police that the four stabbed him in the neck and on the head in a bid to overpower him. He then managed to get…

Staff Reporter People receiving the special COVID-19 grants are set to benefit for a further three months after the government extended the relief scheme in order to support those who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. The Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) meant to assist businesses and staff has also been extended by a month until March 15. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his State of the Nation Address businesses in several sectors are still struggling and many families continue to suffer as the job market tries to slowly recover from the effects of the…

Staff Reporter South Africa will receive about 80 000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week as part of the nine million doses set to be delivered to the country during the course of the year. This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa when he delivered his State of the Nation Address on Thursday. “We have secured nine million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” he said. “The first batch of 80 000 doses will arrive in the country next week. Further consignments will arrive over the next four weeks, totalling 500 000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines.”…

Staff Reporter Tumahole police in Parys are looking for Kenneth Motaung, 26, who they believe could assist in resolving the alleged killing of a young woman who was found buried in a shallow grave. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said some time last month, police received information about a body possibly buried in a shallow grave at a house in Tambo section in Tumahole township. “Police attended to the complaint and the body of Dieketseng Suzan Tsotetsi, 17, was found buried in the shallow grave,” said Makhele in a statement. He said concerned community members informed the police that…

There is no benefit in looking at property that you cannot afford. A good estate agent will interview you to find out not only what you want to buy but why. They may even suggest to you that what you want to buy is not a good or the right property for you. A good estate agent will buy the right property for you rather than get you to sign for anything just to get a sale. Good agents will have you pre-approved with one of the major bond originating companies such as Betterbond. This company will ask you for…