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Building - Maintenance - Plumbing - Electrical Tiling - Painting - Paving - Roofing Geyser installations NM10029880-VI250925
Thursday, 25 September 2025
Free
Government pledges to relocate suffering residents
Homes imminent The 81-year-old Matshediso Landela of Riverside in Nyakallong, Allanridge, spent almost four years suffering from the devastating aftermath of the water rising from the nearest river in their area. Staying alone in her crumbling home, she has battled not just rising waters, but many other challenges caused by that disaster. She lives in fear that her house, like others in the area, might collapse. On Tuesday, 16 September, as she learnt that the Free State premier, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, and Human Settlements MEC, Saki Mokoena, announced their relocation from this forsaken corner of ward 19 of Nyakallong, Landela’s voice broke with sobs of pure relief. She says their misery began in 2022, when the nearby river’s overflow turned their beautiful paradise into peril. “When we settled here in 1986, Riverside was a quiet and beautiful area with a river where kids used to swim. This ended five years ago when floods seeped into our homes, thus wreaking havoc. We started living in fear, every rainfall is a nightmare,” she explained. The nightmare she talks about introduces itself through the foul stench when you arrive in the area. Most of the houses have cracked walls, damaged doors, and rusted roofs. Landela’s neighbour, Anna Mabaso (66), added that the water brought snakes slithering through their doors at night, ferocious mosquitoes, and sewage spilling. “The pollution caused by the stink is the cause of all sorts
The misery of the residents began in 2022, when the nearby river’s overflow turned the beautiful paradise into peril. Most of the houses have cracked walls, damaged doors and the iron roofs have rusted.
of diseases such as asthma, sinusitis, and persistent coughing. We suffer from severe winter colds because of this water. The toll on us has been merciless,” Mabaso added. The Department of Human Settlements, working with the Matjhabeng Local Municipality identified a site where the families will be relocated. Mokoena told the community that the newly-appointed contractor will move with speed to ensure that by December, the first phase to relocate 27 families will be complete. The houses will be built in Extension 1 in Allanridge by contractors represented by Mmuso Makae and Tshidiso Maqaza. This development will see more than 80 families being rescued. The whole project is expected to be completed by March 2026. Letsoha-Mathae pledged transparency. She committed her government to deliver services, not empty promises. “Our priority is to better the lives of the Free State people. We made a commitment to serve you and we shall not falter. Where there are challenges, we will come back to you and inform you,” said the premier. Letsoha-Mathae was flanked by MECs Ketso Makume, Jabu Mbalula, Monyatso Mahlatsi, Zanele Sifuba, Mamiki Maboya, executive mayor of Matjhabeng Thanduxolo Khalipha, councillor Paseka Ramatisa, and government officials. The residents expressed joy that their salvation has arrived when the Free State provincial government vowed swift action. “It is like God remembered us. After so much fear, this feels like breathing freely,” beamed another resident.
For almost four years, the 81-year-old Matshediso Landela had to endure the foul stench and ever-rising waters of the nearby stretch of water that was threatening her home and personal safety. Photos: Supplied
Die ses beskuldigdes in die laddroshof in Welkom, wat weer op Vrydag 7 November in die hof moet verskyn. Foto: Madli Grobbelaar
Beskuldigdes verskyn eersdaags weer in hof Die saak teen die ses beskuldigdes wat ’n 81-jarige vrou by ’n versorgings- en aftreeoord in Welkom na bewering mishandel het, is weer op Donderdag 18 September in die landdroshof in Welkom aangehoor. Die saak is tot Vrydag 7 November uitgestel, sodat die beeldmateriaal wat aan die owerhede verskaf is verder ondersoek kan word. Die beskuldigdes - Lynette Brummer (64), Anna Fourie (73), Mapaseka Majorobella (35), Nomsa Ngcongwane (56), Mofolo Ntswaki (30) en Puseletso Moloi (33) - word aangekla van poging tot moord, aanranding met die doel om ernstig te beseer, ontvoering, mishandeling en die oortreding van die Wet op Ouer Persone, nr. 13 van 2006. Die beskuldigdes is op 9 en 14 Julie in hegtenis geneem. Tydens ’n vorige hofverskyning is getuig dat die beeldmateriaal toon hoe Brummer bo-op die 81-jarige Bettie Payne, ’n inwoner van die aftreeoord, sit en haar mond met kleefband toeplak terwyl die personeel staan en toekyk. Die ontstellende video het groot opslae
Bettie Payne (links) van Welkom, wat glo deur die ses beskuldigdes aangerand en mishandel is, sterk goed aan volgens haar dogter, Mariana Payne.
gemaak. Mariana Payne, Bettie se dogter, wat die hofverrigtinge op 18 September bygewoon het, het aan Vista bevestig dat dit goed gaan met haar ma onder omstandighede. Vista het ook verneem dat die aftreeoord intussen aan nuwe eienaars verkoop is. Louis Botha, die beskuldigdes se regsverteenwoordiger, het aan Vista bevestig dat die saak vir verdere ondersoek tot Vrydag 7 November uitgestel is.
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