The South African police have numerous sophisticated cases reported to them relating to cyber fraud and cybercrime that leave the victims in dire straits The most vulnerable of these are elderly people, who often are not as clued up with doing online transactions
Lt Col Lorato Mabeleng and her staff at the Bainsvlei Police Station in Bloemfontein battle the onslaught of cybercriminals daily
Buy and sell online with caution
Detective Capt Thapelo Motseki urges residents to shop online with caution
“One of the online platforms that gets lots of fake sales, is Facebook There are credible sales made, but many people end up without the product, minus their money ”
Const Nelisa Mbali says cybercriminals share fake proof of payment documents to unsuspecting buyers
“We warn people not to give the goods before the money actually reflects in their bank balances
“Also, you can prevent money that is paid into your account from being reversed by spending a minimum of R50”
Hope given to victims
The Phuthaditjhaba Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) opened in Qwaqwa in the middle of April is envisaged to intensify efforts to root out rampant gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the Free State The centre is situated at the Elizabeth Ross Hospital Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, Free State premier, welcomed the opening, saying it increased the number of such centres in the province to five Established centres are in Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, Sasolburg and Welkom
“The 11% increase in the number of TCCs nationally, 55 as of 2021 and 66 as of 2025, reflects the unwavering commitment by government to eradicate GBVF through a victim-centric, multi-disciplinary approach,” said Letsoha-Mathae
“The launch is also symbolic Thuthuzela Care Centres are not mere facilities, but institutions of hope, justice and healing for victims of GBVF
Here in the Free State we are not resting until we have dealt a death blow to this scourge by providing victims with holistic support, while at the same time improving prosecution rates
“This launch in Phuthaditjhaba showcases our collective commitment to ensure that wherever we are, no one is left behind and that we are all working towards a safer and just society”
She stressed provincial government was fully aligned with the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, pointing to the success of the TCC model whereby:
■ secondary victimisation is minimised;
■ cases are built to conviction through court-ready preparation; and
■ case cycle times are shortened to ensure swift justice
The TCC, as an initiative, has been identified as being led by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (Soca) unit; involvement combines efforts by the Department of Health, the SAPS, the Department of Social Development and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide integrated medical, psychosocial and legal services
Mbali says it is best to accept cash on delivery at a public place
“If you are still concerned, ask the customer to do the transaction at a police station, for security reasons ” The police warn people to stop buying products or making payments without products actually having been delivered
It is not only Facebook marketplaces that cause individuals to lose money There are also fake website scams The police’s counsel is to refrain
from buying from unfamiliar websites, as it is difficult to spot fake website domains and IP addresses
Before making a purchase online, do thorough research on the website This includes reading through the comments, but be vigilant – some of the positive comments are a setup to make a website seem legitimate, the police warn
According to the Bainsvlei police, common pitfalls include advertisements about puppies or vehicles for sale
Beware all things that seem too good to be true
Other scams the police see daily involves investment deals and loans where victims pay money to be able to access funds
Victims could also receive SMSs about “lottery winnings” or competitions, in which they are asked to pay money to access their funds
People often get caught on false Bitcoin and Crypto currency trading platforms
Remember, the good guys can be impersonated
Another way cybercriminals manage to convince victims to pay them, is sending SMSs as a “courier company ” asking the victim to pay in order to receive a parcel Customers are advised to first verify their order on the website from which they have ordered a parcel, and to not pay if they are uncertain
Also, bank scams have been plaguing victims for more than a decade
WO David Mangojane says these criminals cause people to panic by informing them that there is fraudulent activity in their bank account
“This kind of communication will almost always be fraudulent
“The bank does not check pay-
ments in and out of your account It is much more reasonable that you will see something wrong in your payments and go to your bank,” Mangojane warns
If they say they are from the bank, say you will call the bank or visit your bank; do not use the number from which the scammer is calling you to call back, the police advise “Read and understand the warnings about scamming activities that the bank posts on its apps, regarding information such as the sharing of OTPs, as well as the sharing of pins and card numbers”
Scammers target people at any time of day or night, and it is important to note that this is most common when the bank is closed The number they use to call victims often shows the bank name and “fraud department”
Uphold vigilance, all round
WO Michael Kennard says cybercriminals target everyone, but remarkably often pensioners fall prey “It is best for elderly people to draw money inside shops and banks, rather than at ATMs”
In conclusion, people are urged to heed this advise to not give criminals the opportunity to access their hardearned money
Young life lost allegedly due to acts of bullying
TEBOHO SETENA
The alleged repeated bullying and assault of a learner at a Free State primary school has ended tragically The Free State Department of Education confirmed in a statement the suicide of Mbali Mlaba (13), who was enrolled at the Vulindlela Primary School in Harrismith, which is in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district
Howard Ndaba, provincial spokesperson for the department, said the learner had reportedly committed suicide on 8 April, and left a note detailing constant bullying and assault by one of her peers
“According to reports, Mbali’s mother found a note detailing the reasons behind her daughter’s extreme decision,” said Ndaba
“It is alleged that Mbali was repeatedly bullied by a classmate, who accused her of cheating during a class test
“The learner had even requested to be transferred to another school, expressing fear of her classmate, who had assaulted and bullied her in the previous term”
Ndaba said psychosocial support had been provided to learners and educators of the school
Reacting to the incident, Dr Julia Maboya, pro-
vincial MEC for Education, said her department recognised the severe consequences of bullying on learners’ well-being and mental health
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a Gr 7 learner We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased during this incredibly difficult time The Free State Department of Education takes all incidents of bullying seriously and is committed to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all learners”
■ In May last year, a primary school learner, Kamogelo Leepile (11), was killed in a bullying related incident in Brandfort The victim succumbed to wounds after the fatal stabbing by his peer The deceased learner attended the WSM Malotle Primary School He sustained three stab wounds, reportedly by a nine-year-old perpetrator, a Gr 4 learner of the neighbouring Monamodi Primary School
The mother of the attacker reported that her child had complained of consistent bullying by the deceased and his brother
■ In 2022, Tshepo Chabedi, who was in Gr 6 at Zama Primary School in Zastron, was fatally stabbed with a knife, allegedly by a learner who was then 15 years old
The assailant reportedly attacked the victim outside school premises and had repeatedly bullied the victim The attacker was arrested and charged with murder
■ In November 2021, Phemelo More, a learner of the Senzile Combined School in Hertzogville, was fatally stabbed by a 13-year-old learner of the Kegomoditswe Primary School In a separate incident the same year, a 19-year-old learner of the Lerato Uthando High School in Intabazwe, Harrismith, was stabbed by a 17-year-old classmate
Calls made to curb wasteful expenditure in FS
The Office of the Free State Premier has received R633 571 million, and the Treasury Department R384 million, for the 2025-’26 year
The budgets for the respective departments were presented during the budget vote in the Free State Legislature on 15 April
The Office of the Premier’s breakdown of budget is as follows: administration – R110 958 million; institutional development – R270 464 million; policy and planning – R79 590 million; and monitoring and evaluation – R172 559 million The Provincial Treasury Department’s budget is spread over five programmes as follows: administration – R133 million; sustainable resource management – R65,8 million; asset and liabilities management – R72,5 million; financial governance – R34,1 million; and municipal finance management – R78,4 million
Presenting the budget Ketso Makume, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, stated the Free State economy had contracted by 0,1% in 2024 and is projected to grow by 1,5% in 2025 driven by, among others, agriculture, trade, construction, finance and transport
“However, sustainable economic growth will require decisive reforms in energy, logistics and investment facilitation, alongside strengthened public-private partnerships and targeted SME sup-
port Attracting foreign and domestic investment while aligning skills development with industry needs will be fundamental to achieving long-term economic resilience The focus should also be on job-creation, inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Makume
He said the Free State government would strive to continue the significant progress made in curbing unwanted expenditure between the 2022-’23 and 2023-’24 financial years
“This marks a commendable milestone of which we, as a province, can be proud However, we remain mindful that more effort is required to sustain and build on this progress Departments and entities should still do more to curb it and finalise accumulated outstanding investigations”
The DA expressed a vote of no confidence, reacting to the budget presented
“The compensation of employees of the premier is R402 million, more than the entire budget of the legislature The victims of the budgetary leap by the Office of the Premier is the legislature, but the real victims are the people of this province whose seat of democracy is unable to carry out its constitutional mandate regarding oversight over the executive and holding that branch of government accountable,” said Roy Jankielsohn, party leader
“Just compare the number of oversight field visit reports from a few terms ago The ANC seems to think that the 1,1 million out of our 2,9 million population in the Free State, 60% of whom live in poverty, would prefer to be on social grants and rely on poor state healthcare instead of real jobs with pension funds and medical aid schemes
“The expenditure on compensation of employees exceeds actual service delivery in many departments,” he added Dulandi Leech, DA spokesperson on finance, elaborated on this
“Also concerning is that under financial governance, R30 million is reserved for employee costs, not counting consultant fees under goods and services These are the people we entrust with monitoring the finances of departments and municipalities And yet, the Department of Education could not pay service providers in the last quarter
“The budget should be more balanced aimed at providing services and opportunities for growth, the lack of which has driven several residents and investors to other provinces – taking with them their money and jobs, lowering our population and effectively our contribution to the GDP, resulting in the Free State receiving R64 million less than the previous financial year ”
Police officers who work on cases of cybercrime at the Bainsvlei Police Station are, from the left,Const.Nelisa Mbali,WO Michael Kennard,Lt.Col Lorato Mabeleng,Capt. Thapelo Motseki and WO David Mangojane Photo: Lientjie Mentz
Dr Julia Maboya,Free State MEC for Education. Photo: Facebook
Ambition runs in family
TEBOHO SETENA
The strong interest in beauty pageant and modelling runs in the family of a young Bloemfontein protégé, Lieka Terblanche
She follows in the footsteps of her grandmother Cecilia Vorster, who was the face of pageantry in the Free State and crowned as Miss Free State some five decades ago
Lieka is actively involved in both pageantry and modelling as an opportunity to develop “I entered my first beauty pageant in April last year I love the excitement of being on the stage, all the beautiful dress
I get to wear, and making friends along the way
“My inspiration is my grandmother, who won the Miss Free State title in 1972, and placed fourth position in the Miss South Africa contest in 1972 She has ten titles in her beauty pageant career ”
Lieka’s career in pageantry looks promising as she already has some prestigious titles to her cabinet Last year, she was the second princess in the Miss Pure Sparkle contest and recently won the Miss Pre-Teen Mangaung Metro pageant, which is for girls between 11 to 13 years old
Lieka was crowed alongside other category winners of the Mangaung Metro beauty pageant ceremony, held on 5 April in the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre
She said her achievement inspires her to aim for even more prestigious titles, such as the Miss Teen University pageant The beauty pageant features finalists from more than 33 countries, South Africa included In additon to participating in beauty pageants, Lieka is on the runway, modelling for Yez Models, an agency based in Bloemfontein
Her mother, Lize Terblanche, and grandmother are part of the modelling agency
READING CULTURE INSPIRED BY BOOK ADDITIONS
The significance of reading from an early age is emphasised on World Book Day, held globally on 23 April Locally, special focus is on early childhood development (ECD) as the starting a point to fixing South Africa’s literacy crisis
This year’s theme for World Book Day is “Read Your Way” resonating with the sub-theme of “A Nation That Can’t Read, Can’t Succeed ” Research from the World Literacy Foundation shows that children who lack early literacy skills are more likely to fall behind and face long-term educational challenges
Despite government’s recognition of ECD as crucial to reversing South Africa’s literacy crisis, meaningful action has admittedly been delayed by three decades
Although the seventh administration has reaffirmed its focus on early childhood literacy, these commitments remain largely unfulfilled due to lack of funding
REDAKTEUR / EDITOR
Teboho Setena
The lack of access to books extends beyond ECD centres, with over 40% of South African households having no books at all According to the Department of Basic Education and Unicef South Africa, this means many children enter Gr1 without ever having held a book
“Currently 61% of ECD centres have fewer than ten books for children, and only 56% provide age-appropriate reading materials Operating a compliant ECD programme costs nearly five times per-learner subsidy, leaving many centres without sufficient resources Every year, thousands of children enter formal schooling without the foundational literacy skills needed for success,” explained Deb Zelezniak, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Santa Shoebox Project
“While the R99 million allocated over the Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for early grade reading initiatives
teboho setena@novusmedia co za VERKOOPSHOOF / HEAD OF SALES Coleen Cilliers 083 411 1064
The sudden 30% on import tariffs by the president of America, Donald Trump, and his administration to countries across the world is set to reduce the volume of goods traded and affect citizen welfare globally.
is a step in the right direction, we need immediate action The urgency of South Africa’s literacy crisis cannot be overstated ”
In response, non-profits like the Santa Shoebox Project are stepping in to bridge the gap by installing reading corners in ECD centres These spaces are filled with age-appropriate books where children can engage with stories on their own or with a caregiver To date, the organisation has installed over 220 reading corners around the country
Zelezniak said to fast-track the project caregivers are also trained on how to incorporate books into the learning experience in ways that support ECD milestones
“Ultimately, these are the building blocks that help children read write communicate and connect with others – giving them a strong start at school and setting the stage for lifelong learning, said Zelezniak
MUSIC SPEAKS TO HEART
An Evening of Timeless Romantics, featuring Nicol Viljoen and Piet Koornhof, will be presented on Thursday, 24 April, in the Odeion Auditorium on the main campus of the the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein
It is set to start 19:00
This enchanting concert features a handpicked collection of timeless romantic songs, lovingly arranged for violin and piano by the acclaimed Viljoen
Performed alongside celebrated violinist Koornhof, this musical journey promises an unforgettable evening filled with elegance, nostalgia, and soul-stirring melodies
The programme highlights include:
■ Gershwin’s “S’Wonderful,”
■ Kern’s “The Way You Look Tonight” and “All the Things you are,”
■ Edith Piaf’s timeless “La Vie en Rose,”
■ Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Corcovado” and “One Note Samba,”
■ Bill Evans’ dreamy “Waltz for Debby,” and
■ Henry Mancini’s iconic “Pink Panther Theme ”
Tickets for the event are available on quicket co za or at the door – here, however, card sales only are made
The prices of tickets are R100 for adults and R50 for pensioners, students and learners
Finalist schools from FS earn stripes as problem-solvers
Three Free State schools are among the 20 finalists in the 2025 Solve for Tomorrow Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (Stem) competition, a national initiative for Gr 10 and Gr 11 learners in public schools
These are the Lenakeng Technical School in Welkom, the Lereng Secondary School in Ladybrand and the Koffiefontein Combined School in Koffiefontein
The finalists were selected after scores of applications had been received by end of March
Aimed at empowering these groups with creative problem-solving, the competition’s theme this year is “Infrastructure and Safety,” challenging learners to identify real issues in their communities and apply Stem to solve them
The competition is a partnership between Samsung South
Africa and the Department of Basic Education, launched in South Africa in 2023
It encourages creative thinking, problem-solving skills and teamwork to nurture social innovative ideas that address local communities’ most pressing challenges
The feedback from the competition organisers on this year ’ s submissions is that the response was overwhelming, and the ideas powerful From tackling water scarcity and load shedding, to developing safer school spaces –these young minds are dreaming big and designing bold
As part of this very crucial stage, the teams from the 20 finalist schools will now be taken to Design Thinking workshops to be held within their respective regions To help learners conduct their research and communicate with mentors, the teams from the selected schools
will be sponsored with a tablet as well as data
At the Design Thinking workshops, learners will be taught invaluable skills on how to best approach and get the most out of their work, think critically, speak and act like designers; as well as a cognitive and structured process for human-centred, creative problem-solving
At the end of this phase, the top 20 will be expected to submit the paper prototypes of the solutions they have identified, and the judges will evaluate to determine the top 10 schools to proceed to the final phase
The teams stand a chance to win prizes and the recognition as South Africa’s next generation of innovators and problem-solvers
The first prize is R100 000; the school in second-place will get R50 000; while the school in third place will receive R30 000 in Stem equipment
The Trump administration implemented a global 10% import tariff and a varying targeted reciprocal tariff to a host of countries, including South Africa The reciprocal import tariff to be levied on South African export goods to America is set at 30% Historical data shows that yearly trade between the two countries amounts to $23 billion, with America being South Africa’s second biggest trading partner after China The high tariff will reduce the competitiveness of South African export goods to American markets, leading to reduced demand of South African exports in American markets, low income to firms, job losses, low income to households, and ultimately lower local economic growth South Africa exports platinum, locally assembled cars, raw aluminium, ferroalloys and agriculture products, among other goods, to America The implication of the latter’s administration’s 30% tariff hike could result in job losses in the mining, automobile, agriculture and many other industries
More income losses to South African agricultural exports can also be experienced if the African Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa) expires in September 2025 Given the low economic growth rate in South Africa in 2024, which is estimated at 0,6%, the tariff hike by America will exacerbate sluggish economic growth and recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic Statistics also show that energy products, machinery, vehicle, industrial and other consumer goods are imported The goods and services imported are critical in developing and sustaining local industry
It is important to note that President Trump’s administration’s trade policies are premised on a trade notion synonymous to “mercantilism” , which was practiced in Europe between the 16th to 18th centuries Under mercantilism, an economy aims to maintain a trade surplus, the government regulated the economy, discourage imports (in the case of tariff hikes), and promote growth of home industries among other initiatives Conventional economics wisdom has proved that policies pursued by the Trump administration of protectionism are a breeding ground for trade wars There is great potential of fellow trading partners retaliating and if that happens, global citizens will be made worse off as they will be forced to pay high prices for goods due to additional costs driven by tariff hikes If the suppliers of raw material resources retaliate, the production cost model will rise, reducing export competitiveness
Trump’s administration is calling for firms across the world to move and produce goods in America to avoid tariff levies The action works against the benefits of free trade and can affect comparative advantages It is essential to note that free trade with absolutely no trade barriers will enhance the welfare of citizens at large, since goods and services will be purchased at low prices The American government’s act of over-regulating trade can limit economic growth
The South African government must intensify relations with other countries, initiate diplomatic and trade negotiations focusing possibly on tariff reduction, maintaining the Agoa, and delving deep in the logic used to arrive at the 30% tariff hike The diplomatic initiatives must encompass improving perceptions and clarity of policies such as the Expropriation Act which is one of the reasons cited by the American administration in ratcheting the tariff trade war The current trade relationship between South Africa and America presents a window to strengthen trade with any other economy willing to get into trade partnerships South Africa must explore other markets where the export goods still enjoy competitiveness
■ Mudzingiri is assistant dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), Qwaqwa campus
The newly crowned 2025 Miss Pre-Teen Mangaung Metro Lieka Terblanche (middle) with the runners-up,Olerato Jwaqa (left) and Chika Okere Photo: Supplied
Juniors ready to show their rugby mettle
The Junior Springbok head coach, Kevin Foote, has named Elrich Visser of the Toyota Cheetahs in a competitive Junior Springbok squad consisting of 31 players for the 2025 edition of the U20 Rugby Championship.
The tournament will be staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha from 1 to 11 May
Visser is the only Free State player in the junior national team, rewarding his sterling performance
Five capped Junior Boks are included in the squad, including three who took part in last year ’ s inaugural Southern Hemisphere tournament in Australia, where the South African U20 team finished second behind New Zealand
Batho Hlekani (loose forward), Haashim Pead (scrumhalf) and JC Mars (outside back) are the trio who will be returning for their second Rugby Championship, while the two other returning Junior Boks are Wandile Mlaba (loose forward) and Herman Lubbe (prop)
Divan Fuller (flanker), who has also been capped by the Junior Boks, will miss the tournament due to an injury
The naming of the main Junior Bok squad is the culmination of a thorough preparation process which started with two training camps at the end of last year, another training block after the festive break, a short tour to Georgia, followed by a third training period in preparation of the season
Foote said there is excitement in the camp in the build up to the keenly anticipated tournament in the Eastern Cape “The Rugby Championship is a great opportunity for our players to test their abilities against quality opposition from New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina
“And, we are looking forward to the challenge to play quality opposition in front of our passionate Eastern Cape fans,” said Foote
“We worked with 80 players during our various training camps, which gave us a fantastic opportunity to test and assess our depth
“I believe we have selected a competitive Junior Bok squad, consisting of players who have really put up their hand during the camps A few missed out due to injury while there are also a couple who were retained from last year ”
According to the Junior Bok mentor it was not an easy task to reduce the squad, and he commended the entire training group for their effort during the preparation blocks
“The players all did their part, and I am pleased with their effort,” said Foote
“We could only announce a 31-man squad, but that does not mean those players who will not play in Nelson Mandela Bay are out of the reckoning for the World Rugby U20 Championship”
Foote added that they will monitor player progress in SA Rugby’s U21 Cup competition, which starts next month, and emphasised that the door is not closed at all considering there is still another training block to come after the Rugby Champs in the build-up towards the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy
The Junior Bok squad will assemble next Tuesday, 29 April, in Gqeberha where they will fine-tune preparations for the tournament
The Junior Springbok squad for the U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha comprises:
Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Herman Lubbe (DHL Western Province), and Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province); Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), and HB Odendaal (Fidelity ADT Lions);
Locks: Neil Hansen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Morné Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions), Riley Norton (DHL Western Province), and JJ Theron (Vodacom Bulls);
Loose forwards: Batho Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Xola Nyali (DHL Western Province), Matt Romao (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (DHL Western Province), and Thando Biyela (Fidelity ADT Lions); and Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks) and Haashim Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions) Visser
