OFM News
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
Judgment expected in Sassa issue
The Constitutional Court will hand down judgment in the social grants case this morning. Rights group Black Slash brought an urgent application asking the court to play an oversight role in the payment crisis. In 2012, the South African Social Security Agency contracted Cash Paymaster Services to distribute social grants…
Prasa board heads to court to challenge dissolution
Former Prasa chair Popo Molefe and members of the now dissolved board, will turn to the High Court in Pretoria today to challenge Transport Minister Dipuo Peters’ decision to dismiss them. Peters dissolved the board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa days after acting CEO Collins Letsaolo was…
Chief justice exasperated by Sassa, Dlamini's incompetence
Chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng was at a loss for words on Wednesday regarding how Sassa and Minister Bathabile Dlamini could have allowed the social grants payment issue to become such a debacle. A frustrated Mogoeng Mogoeng repeatedly pressed Andrew Breitenbach, for Dlamini and the SA Social Security Agency, in the…
Vier, insluitend polisiebeampte, ondervra oor rooftog by OR Tambo
Vier mense, onder wie 'n polisiebeampte, is vir ondervraging ingeneem in verband met die onlangse rooftog by die OR Tambo Internasionale Lughawe. Die waarnemende polisiekommissaris, Kgomotso Phahlane, het gister bekendgemaak dat twee van die vier mense in hegtenis geneem is. Maryke Vermaak berig dat miljoene rande, wat vir 'n oorsese…
Feature: Opposition parties react to FS Budget
MEC of Treasury in the Free State, Elzabe Rockman, tabled the provincial budget at a legislature sitting Gariep on Tuesday. Rockman said the provincial economic growth rate is estimated to have contracted by 0.7 % in 2016, after growing by 0.4 % in 2015. She said this was due to…
Dlamini blames media for creating panic around social grants
Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini has blamed the media for creating panic around the payment of social grants at the end of the month. Her department has been in the spotlight recently as fears mount around exactly how social grants will be paid to around 17 million South Africans after…
NC Finance MEC Mac to table budget
Opposition parties in the Northern Cape Legislature says they hope that Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Mac Jack will make an announcement that would improve health care to mental patients in the Northern Cape. He is set to table the provincial budget today. The parties believes a sure sign…
Ondersoek na kontrakteur versoek na hospitaal se dak inval
Die boumaatskappy wat opknappingswerk by die Charlotte Maxeke-hospitaal in Johannesburg gedoen het sal aanspreeklik gehou word nadat ’n stuk van die hospitaal se dak ingestort en minstens ses mense beseer het. Die Gautengse LUR van Infrastruktuurontwikkeling, Jacob Mamabolo, sê Thandzanani Trading Enterprise is ook die terrein verbied na die voorval…
Feature: Parties respond to NW SOPA
North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo, laid out his office's biggest plan's for the 2017/2018 financial year while highlighting previous successes as well as current and continuing projects in his State of the Province Address. This marked the official opening of the North West Legislature. OFM News’ Moeketsi Mogotsi spoke to…
Dlamini to brief media over social grant payments
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini is set to brief media today on the controversy surrounding the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the payment of social grants. When she addressed media yesterday as head of the social cluster, Dlamini remained tight-lipped on any questions relating to the topic, urging those…
Durban likely to pull out of hosting 2022 Commonwealth Games
The city of Durban seems likely to pull out of hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula made this announcement at a social cluster briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday. He said no final decision had been taken, but there were several concerns that needed to be addressed,…
Prasa se waarnemende bestuurshoof kry trekpas
Die raad van die Passasierspooragentskap, Prasa, het die kontrak met sy waarnemende bestuurshoof, Collins Letsoalo, beëindig. Letsoalo sal onmiddellik na die Departement van Vervoer terugkeer waar hy in diens was voordat hy na Prasa gesekondeer is. Die raad sê hy bestempel die omstredenheid oor Letsoalo se vergoedingspakket egter nié in…
Farm Attack
A 79-year old farmer has been found murdered at his house on a small holding in the Hartswater area in the Northern Cape. Police spokesperson, Hendrik Swart, says Piet Jacobs' body was found in his bedroom by his son when he returned home at around 07:00 on Saturday. Swart says…
Nadoodse ondersoek Hartswater
'n Nadoodse ondersoek sal die presiese oorsaak van die dood van 'n bejaarde boer van Hartswater in die Noord-Kaap bepaal. Die 79-jarige Piet Jacobs is Saterdagoggend in sy slaapkamer in 'n huis op 'n kleinhoewe deur sy seun gevind. Polisiewoordvoerder, Hendrik Swart sê Jacobs se hande was vasgebind agter sy…
Water levels subsiding in NW, most roads reopened
Water levels are starting to subside on affected roads in North West following road closures this week due to water damage after heavy rainfall. Provincial spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety and Transport Management, Rebaone Moeng, says most roads that were closed on Tuesday have been re-opened for traffic…
Man arrested in connection with murder of Tlokwe Mayor's son
The office of Tlokwe Municipality Mayor, Kgotso Khumalo, has applauded police for the arrest of a 22-year-old man in connection with the murder of Khumalo's son Mike Maimane at the weekend in Ikageng, Potchefstroom. Khumalo's spokesperson, Victor Boqo says justice can now take its course and the speedy arrest brings…
Some roads remain closed in FS after flooding
The Free State Department of Police Roads and Transport says some roads in the province are still closed due to water damage caused by heavy rain this week. Spokesperson, Kabelo Moloabi, says the R720 between Koppies and Edenville and the R82 between Kroonstad and Koppies remain closed. Meanwhile the R721…
Motoriste moet veilig bestuur op nat paaie in VS
Die Departement van Polisie, Paaie en Vervoer in die Vrystaat waarsku motoriste om veilig te bestuur op nat paaie. Woordvoerder, Kabelo Moloabi, sê swaar reën die afgelope week het skade aan paaie aangerig. Hy sê 'n veilige spoed moet gehandhaaf word in nat toestande. Intussen voorspel die Suid-Afrikaanse Weerdiens nóg…
Kragtariewe gaan met meer as 2.2% styg - kenner
'n Energiekenner sê Suid-Afrikaners kan wel baie meer opdok vir elektrisiteit in die 2017/2018 finansiële jaar as die 2.2% wat gister deur die energiereguleerder goedgekeer is. Chris Yelland se komentaar kom nadat Nersa gister aangekondig het dat hy die kragverskaffer toegelaat het om sy tariewe vir dié tydperk te verhoog…
'Proposed tax rate for highest earning South Africans worrying'
Investment analyst, Chris Gilmour says the proposed tax rate for the highest earning South Africans might come with consequences for our struggling economy. Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan tabled the 2017/18 budget in Parliament on Wednesday, announcing a series of tax hikes. Among them is a personal income tax rate of…