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
Community survey results to be released by June
The results of Statistics South Africa’s Community Survey 2016 are expected to be released by the end of June. Stats SA’s field workers started visiting selected households around the country this week and will complete collecting data for the survey on April 22. Phemelo Motoma, Statistical Support and Informatics Manager…
SASFU again facing deregistration
The South African Security Forces Union (SASFU) could again face deregistration as a union operating in the Defence Force because of internal problems. The union was deregistered in 2010 by the Registrar of Trade Unions after it failed to provide financial statements and other documents they were required to submit…
More than 80 000 FS households to be part of the Community Survey 2016
More than 80 000 households in the Free State will be visited by Statistics SA fieldworkers for the Community Survey 2016. Fieldworkers started visiting selected households this week and will continue to do so until April 22. The survey is the second largest information gathering exercise after the national census,…
Favourable rainfall predictions for FS, NW and NC
Rainfall predictions are favourable for the rest of the week in parts of the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. A forecaster at the Bloemfontein Weather Service, Sihle Kunene, says there is a 60% chance for rain in the eastern Free State and eastern parts of North West today…
VS gesondheidsdepartement ondersoek voedselvergiftiging by Aldam-oord
Beamptes van die Departement van Gesondheid in die Vrystaat ondersoek die voorval waarin meer as 80 mense gister vermoedelik voedselvergiftiging by die Aldam-oord naby Ventersburg opgedoen het. Provinsiale woordvoerder van gesondheid, Mondli Mvambi, sê 85 mense wat deel was van ‘n groep wat aan ‘n Love Life spanbousessie deelgeneem het,…
Community health workers in NW vow to continue to strike
Thousands of community health workers in North West have vowed to continue to strike until their demands are fully met. Nehawu spokesperson, Patrick Makhafane says around 3000 union members embarked on a strike across the province yesterday, demanding permanent employment by the Department of Health. The workers are opposed to…
Strenger kostebesparingsmaatreëls vir VS regering aangekondig
Die Vrystaatse LUR vir Finansies Elzabe Rockman het soos verwag streng kostebesparingsmaatreëls tydens haar provinsiale begrotingsrede aangekondig. Dit volg nadat die provinsiale tesourie reeds verlede jaar ‘n moratorium op die vul van nie-noodsaaklike vakante poste geplaas het. Cathy Dlodlo berig dat die verifiëring van staatsamptenare om van spookwerkers ontslae te…
Hawks deny police members involved in Welkom heist
Five suspects that were arrested yesterday in connection with a foiled robbery near Welkom were not police officers. Hawks spokesperson, Hangwani Mulaudzi, says the suspects aged between 33 and 48 were arrested after the Hawks received information that an armed robbery was being planned in the area. He says two…
Meer kostebesparingsmaatreëls verwag tydens VS begrotingsrede
Vrystaatse LUR Elzabe Rockman gaan na verwagting vandag meer kostebesparingsmaatreëls tydens haar provinsiale begrotingsrede aankondig. Dit volg nadat die provinsiale tesourie reeds verlede jaar ‘n moratorium op die vul van nie-noodsaaklike vakante poste geplaas het. ‘n Proses vir die verifiëring van staatsamptenare is ook al in verskeie departemente begin om…
FS budget speech to be delivered today
Free State Finance MEC Elzabe Rockman will deliver her budget speech in the Free State Legislature today. Two of the province's biggest departments - those of health and education - are under financial administration and their financial woes led to a shortage of medication at clinics and hospitals and the…
Another chance to register to vote
If you weren't able to make it to a voting station this weekend to register to vote you still have a chance. The Independent Electoral Commission says you can register or update your address details at its offices. Electoral Officer Mawethu Mosery says they're open five days a week from…
FEATURE: Free State budget wishlist
Cathy Dlodlo and Christal-Lize Muller spoke to the different political parties to hear what they hope Rockman will prioritize and which departments should receive less, to give others more, in an effort to address the financial woes of the Free State provincial government.
Fanie Brunette – dairy quality
GrainCo manager of lucerne, Fanie Brunette, explains why they have introduced a new, higher, lucerne grade
Fanie Brunette – lucerne press
GrainCo manager of lucerne, Fanie Brunette, explains that they decided to go ahead with installing a multi-million Rand lucerne press after visiting America.
Two teens drown, another missing after school outing at Margate beach
Two teenage girls have drowned and a teenage boy is missing after a group of pupils on a school outing struggled in the surf at Margate Beach on Saturday evening. A group of Pietermaritzburg school pupils accompanied by teachers and their principal were at the beach on a school outing…
Second voter registration day starts
Hundreds of voter registration stations opened on time again in the Free State on Sunday for voters to check whether their details are correct or to register as a first time voter. Saturday’s voter registration process in the Free State went smoothly accept for a few hiccups, such as tents…
Tlokwe voters don’t know where to register
Part of the reason for the relatively poor turn out at registration points in Tlokwe yesterday, could be because residents don’t know in which wards they need to register. This is according to Ward 22 representative, Santie Brits. Registration in Tlokwe was mired by IEC officials allegedly arriving late, other…
Free State voter registration off to smooth start in FS
Voter registration for the 2016 municipal elections in the Free State started smoothly on Saturday morning despite a few hiccups. In Bloemfontein, most voter registration stations were ready at 8am. Some stations helped register up to 20 new voters within the first hour. At others the tents were erected late…
Matjhabeng municipality phone lines go down, service provider blamed
Residents of the Matjhabeng municipality, which includes Welkom, were unable to reach the municipality or emergency service this week as a result of faulty telephone lines. Municipal spokesperson, Khojane Matutle, blamed the service provider for the problem. Matutle says the phone lines are working against after talks with Telkom and…
'Reuse taak om vrye en regverdige verkiesing in Tlokwe te verseker'
'n Politieke ontleder sê die OVK staan voor ’n reuse taak om ’n vrye en regverdige verkiesing in Tlokwe, Noordwes te verseker. André Duvenhage se komentaar kom te midde van die kiesersregistrasie-naweek wat vandag en môre landwyd plaasvind. Die Grondwethof het onlangs die uitslae van die 2013 tussenverkiesings in Tlokwe…