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Home and Building Renovations
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Thursday, 27 March 2025
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Residents take to the streets for basic necessities
Life in a ‘no-man’s land’ MARTI WILL
Dansey. Dansey says everyone agrees to paying for services, and all the residents are willing to pay. The issue, however, is who and where do they pay and how will they receive accounts? Only seven accounts are registered with Matjhabeng. Dansey says she suspects this is one account per block. Residents insist that the individual units must be fitted with meters so that the individual readings can be received. Dansey says there was a suggestion made that the 406 units pay a flat rate of R400 per month until the municipality can install the meters to every unit. “This way, at least, the municipality will get some money in and the debt will not just be written off.” The acting chief financial officer (CFO), Lindsay William, said that the finance department is governed by a lot of policies and legislation, and they do not want to create audit findings by agreeing to a R400 flat rate payment.
It has been described as no-man’s land, no man’s responsibility. Raising the question: Who does the Reahola hostel complex belong to? Residents of this old mining complex have been bandied about as “belonging to” the Matjhabeng Local Council and the Reahola Association (dissolved by the Supreme Court). Reahola is being administered by Provincial Human Settlements. After yet another electricity cut-off to the complex, angry residents picketed outside the municipal buildings in Stateway demanding that their services be reinstated on Wednesday, 19 March. An urgent meeting to address the issues was held on Tuesday and attended by the acting mayor, Cllr Hlobohang Mokhomo, the finance department, a residents committee and the ward council, Cllr Estelle
Williams told the meeting that she would do some research about whether this will be an acceptable payment arrangement in the interim. A finance department employee confirmed that people are buying electricity, but the units are bypassed. He said only 52 units have bought electricity since April out of the 46 units. He said that these units only buy 20 to 50 electricity units every second or third month. According to him, 90% of the electricity meters in Reahola have been bypassed. A representative of human settlements said that Reahola has been under investigation since 2019. More than 90% of the resident are not owners, only five people are rightful owners of their units. All the other units are owned by Reahola Association, which was dissolved in the High Court. Dansey confirms that a follow-up meeting is scheduled. The electricity to Reahola has been restored in the interim.
Two residents of the Reahola Housing complex who took part in the protest outside of the municipal building. Photo: Supplied
ARRESTS FOR PUBLIC VIOLENCE
Serial rapist terrorised communities for years
At least 21 people, including a 17-yearold minor, were arrested for acts of public violence following protest action in Khotsong, Bothaville. According to information, the arrested persons were part of a group of disgruntled community members who were marching to the Nala Municipality offices on Wednesday, 19 March. These suspects are facing various charges, including public violence, obstruction, damage to essential infrastructure, and malicious damage to property. Schools in Khotsong were closed for the day.
In a significant breakthrough, the Free State police have arrested a 28-year-old man believed to be behind a series of rapes and burglaries that have haunted the communities of Virginia, Meloding, and Makwane for several years. “The suspect, now in custody, is facing multiple charges, including eight counts of rape, following an extensive investigation,” says Sgt. Mahlomola Kareli, provincial police spokesperson.
Potatoes 7kg
3800 ea
Bananas p.kg
999
MARTI WILL
History of violent acts Between the period of mid-2018 and late 2022,
Onions 2kg
Baby Potatoes 10kg
ea
ea
1500
Plums punnet
1000 ea
the Virginia community experienced a series of housebreakings, common robberies, house robberies and thefts, creating a climate of fear. During this period, eight cases of rape, housebreaking, house robbery and theft were registered in the Virginia/Meloding area. “In 2023, the Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria provided a forensic investigative lead, linking an unknown individual to cases in Makwane and Qwaqwa. “The dockets were assigned to Const. Mosioua Ntholeng, an investigator attached to the SAPS’ Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Unit in Bloemfontein. “He meticulously re-interviewed the victims, revisited and reconstructed crime scenes and diligently followed up on all information received. This
2500
Green Beans 1kg
3000 ea
Red Onions 2kg
1500 ea
Hubbard Squash
20
00 ea
Watermelons XL
60
00 ea
Cabbage
1200 ea
Crown Prince
Lemons 4's
ea
ea
20
00
20
00
Avos 1.5kg
1500 ea
Mangos Large
B uy 2 f or
15
00 ea
Apples and Pears 1.5kg
1200 ea
Butternuts Large
1000 ea
comprehensive approach led to the identification of a 28-year-old from Excelsior as a primary suspect,” says Kareli. Further investigation revealed that the suspect had a prior arrest record for housebreakings in Virginia, Welkom and Excelsior. He had a proven history of exhibiting a similar modus operandi to the serial rapist. A buccal sample (a method of collecting DNA from cells on the inside of a person’s cheek, also known as a buccal swab or buccal smear, and relatively non-invasive) was obtained, confirming his identity. The suspect is facing eight charges of rape, and he has been identified as the suspect in two burglary cases that happened in Virginia in 2023, based on fingerprint evidence.
Yellow Peaches 5's
2000 ea
Peppers 3's
1000 ea
Prices Valid 27/03/25 to 30/03/25
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