Metroplanstoregulate
TEBOHO SETENA
The Free State social housing complex in Brandwag, Bloemfontein, is back in the spotlight with the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) planning to regulate the controversial property
The property has been fraught with problems arising from collapsed governance
Problems range from the non-payment of municipal service accounts and rent, debt worth billions, alleged fraud and corruption, as well as apparent gross maladministration
On Monday, 5 May, the metro issued a public notice to tenants informing them about the intended
plans to regulate the property, starting with signing lease agreements to qualifying tenants
According to Qondile Khedama, spokesperson for the metro, there are only four legal tenants who qualified for the programme with the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (Shra) “They are currently paying the rental fee as per the contract,” he said
According to Khedama, the regulation of the housing complex meant that all non-qualifying occupants needed to be assessed and sign lease agreements upon qualification He explained this was part of the numerous processes already in place in terms of the administration on the instructions of the Mangaung Metro’s council resolution and instructions to regulate the housing complex
According to Khedama, these processes were key to collecting rentals and manage the Brandwag Social Housing project for tenants to meet their obligations in terms of their lease agreements with the Free State Social Housing Company (Freshco) He said the Mangaung council approved the Freshco winding-up-and-transfer-ofstock strategy on 5 July last year
“The turn-around commenced with a process of regularising all existing qualifying occupants from September to October 2024 This timeline was extended to the end of November last year to deal with tenants who claimed not to have had sufficient time The process of regularising the Brandwag housing complex has been completed A further extension was granted in respect of regularisation to the end of
January 2025,” said Khedama He said there was a multifaced task team in the process of finalising the appointment of the new Social Housing Institution, which will manage the Brandwag housing complex The team comprised of the Mangaung Metro, Social Housing Regulatory Authority, Department of Human Settlement (provincial and national), and the bond holding National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) Khedama said the process unfolding now followed the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee’s visit to the Brandwag project on 25 March and commitment by Gregory Nthatisi, executive mayor, to engage with occupants
He said the mayor held several meetings with the so-called ‘tenants
committee’ in the area from the date of the administration order until the end of April
“In a meeting held between the executive mayor and the committee on 2 April, the committee made an offer as little as R200 a month on the rental payments, irrespective of the size of the units, which is not acceptable According to Khedama, illegal occupants failing to comply with the latest processes, face eviction in terms of the notice of motion which was served to illegal occupants
During the legal battles, which include protest by occupants against the Mangaung Metro’s eviction attempt, occupants did not pay for any services for several years This saw occupants themselves running the complex into a squalor
Victim tally soars as Hawks probe get-rich-quick scheme
The current state of the Free State Social Housing complex in Brandwag,Bloemfontein Photo: Teboho Setena
A charred vehicle is among the eyesore items greeting visitors entering the Brandwag housing complex,in addition to long grass and rubbish lying around Photo: Teboho Setena
Some people snapped heading in the direction of a shebeen operating in the Brandwag housing complex This is one of the problems in the area Photo: Lientjie Mentz
With no basic services being rendered in the area,garbage is often disposed of along the fence of the infamous Brandwag complex Photo: Teboho Setena
Three suspected of trafficking child labourer
TEBOHO SETENA
Three men are facing a serious charge of human trafficking relating to a minor from Malawi, considered a victim of child labour
They reappeared in the Reddersburg Magistrates’ Court on 29 April for their bail application, following their arrest six days after the discovery of the purported trafficked minor
The suspects are the Ethiopian Erdedo Hadero (39) and Malawian pair Mustafa Maisi (35) and Serious Katema (30) The trio were apprehended by the Bloemfontein-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation (Soci) unit
Lt Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the preliminary findings revealed that Maisi was the cousin of the minor, and that Katema had allegedly facilitated the employment of the minor to the Ethiopian, who owns a shop in the Free State town located 60km outside of
Bloemfontein
He said the discovery of the trafficked minor and the trio’s arrest followed an inspection campaign conducted on 17 April by officials of the Department of Home Affairs and Reddersburg police members
“Upon arrival at a certain tuck shop, they found the victim who was employed as a cleaner “The victim was earning R1 000 per month, allegedly paid to his cousin, who is based in Bloemfontein,” said Mohobeleli
He added that further investigations discovered that only the Ethiopian was documented, while the pair of Maisi and Katema were in the country illegally
“The minor is under the care of the Department of Social Development,” said Mohobeleli, adding that the investigation would establish the victim’s arrival in the country
He said the suspects were set reappear in court for their bail application after it was postponed last Tuesday
Danger of risk recalled
Motorists using the R64 Route contend with the risk caused by partially visible road signs, several of which are covered with natural vegetation
BloemExpress has taken photos of one such sign along this Free State road connecting towns such as Boshof and Dealesville, and ultimately the Northern Cape province
Statistics pertaining to road safety has proven that road signs overgrown by natural vegetation create safety hazards for motorists, impacting visibility and potentially masking crucial information This leads to drivers’ disorientation resulting in accidents and delays
With Worker’s Day recently being observed, thoughts were cast back to a case of this risk involving a bus transporting trade union delegates from Kimberley to Qwaqwa to celebrate May Day on 1 May 2003
A total of 51 passengers were killed after the bus sank rapidly in the Sol Plaatje Dam, formerly Saulspoort, following impact with the water – trapping the passengers underwater
Part of the findings made in investi-
gating the accident afterwards pointed to a lack of visible road signs and gates on the dam’s access roads, compounded by believed negligence on the driver ’ s part in his failure to prepare for the trip according to a route beforehand
Additional blame was put on the condition of the bus – which was an old model and found to not possess efficient emergency exits or safety equipment, as well as apparently having poor brakes
EASTER ROAD FATALITIES CURBED
This year’s Easter Weekend Road Safety Report showed that South Africa recorded the lowest number of crashes and fatalities in the last three years
The minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, presented the report on 29 April covering the period from 20 March until 29 April
According to the findings, in the Free State the most significant factor contributing to fatalities was human factors, such as reckless and negligent driving Road and environmental factors also played a role while vehicle factors were less common
“Fatalities were reduced from 307 in 2024 to 167 in 2025, which is a 45,6% decrease,” said Creecy
“All provinces recorded decreases in fatalities except Mpumalanga ”
Creecy revealed that fatalities involving pedestrians accounted for 47%, or almost half, of all the deaths
on roads
“This shocking reality indicates that our message to pedestrians is not reaching home, and we have to do much more work at a local level where these accidents occur
“Overall, we now believe that it will be possible to meet our target to reduce crashes and fatalities by at least 50% by 2029
“Our challenge is to sustain this achievement daily, weekly and monthly,” said Creecy
During the Easter period, 177 584 vehicles were stopped and checked and 44 505 traffic fines issued
A total of 2 018 vehicles were discontinued and 1 536 vehicles impounded
A total of 941 drivers were arrested for drunken driving, 89 were arrested for excessive speeding and 8 drunk drivers arrested for attempting to bribe officers
A partially visible road sign along a busy stretch of the R64,photographed on Thursday,1 May,observed as Worker’s Day or May Day. Photo: Teboho Setena
Trusts going digital
As of 1 April, the Masters’ Offices in Johannesburg and Pretoria no longer accept paper-based submissions for an inter vivos trust
Instead, everything is done through a new online platform
This followed the issuing of Directive 2 of 2025 on 27 March by the chief master, marking the start of a digital transformation at the Master’s Offices
An inter vivos trust, or “living trust,” is a legal arrangement created during a person ’ s lifetime, to manage and protect assets for beneficiaries
Unlike testamentary trusts, which are created in a will and come into effect after death, inter vivos trusts are active while the founder is still alive
These new developments will be beneficial to any person considering setting up a trust
These include the addition of QR codes on all new letters of authority issued by the Master’s Office
While it may seem like a minor change, it is a big step forward in ensuring the authenticity and validity of all letters of authority
The QR code will allow banks, attorneys, and government departments to instantly confirm the validity of the letter of authority of a trust
This change was implemented on 18 March to make the process of streamlining interaction with third parties easier, as well as to
prevent fraud
Another major change is the shift from a manual submission to a fully online system when registering new inter vivos trusts
A trustee or the representative can upload documents, track the progress of their application, and receive feedback directly from the Master’s Office, all without needing to set foot in a government building
For the time being, this only applies to the Masters’ Offices in Johannesburg and Pretoria
Since the new developments to the online system are only applicable for creating an inter vivos trust, a manual submission for testamentary trusts and amendments to existing trusts still apply
There is currently no timeline for when other trust processes will be fully implemented on the
digital system or when the online platform will be rolled out to other provinces
Despite the lack of a timeline, these new developments are a clear indication that the Master’s Office is committed to improving service delivery, reducing red tape, and protecting trustees and beneficiaries
For trustees and their representatives, these changes mean less time spent dealing with administrative hurdles and more time focusing on the core responsibilities of managing a trust
These offices are there to support trustees
Whether they are registering a new trust, verifying a letter of authority, searching for an independent trustee, or simply requiring assistance understanding a client’s duties as a trustee, they are ready to assist
Afrikaans’ 100 years marked
The University of the Free State (UFS) will present the DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture on Thursday, 15 May, in celebration of the 100 years of Afrikaans being recognised as an official language in South Africa
It will be presented in the Economic and Management Sciences Auditorium on the Bloemfontein campus, starting at 17:30
The lecture forms part of the national celebration of Afrikaans held on Thursday, 8 May
The lecture will be a showcase of the language in its rich diversity, and will provide an opportunity for a sincere dialectical reflection on the history of the language and its achievements
The keynote speaker is
Prof Joan Hambidge, with the rejoinder delivered by Prof Hein Willemse, and entertainment provided by musician Frazer Barry, the UFS’ Department of Drama and Theatre Arts, and the Odeion String Quartet
Hambidge is a wellknown literary scholar, award-winning and prolific poet, distinguished academic and critic, and a controversial public figure who is known for her iconoclastic approach to Afrikaans literary traditions
Willemse is an academic, literary critic, activist and author He is the former head of the Department of Afrikaans at the University of Pretoria (UP) who has, among many achievements, co-authored the publication
The Arabic Afrikaans Writing Tradition
Barry is the frontman of the klipkoprock band Tribal Echo, who plays several traditional instruments such as the blikkitaar (tin box guitar), teaspoons or sea bamboo, and whose highly acclaimed music is informed by his extensive research into the language and culture of his Khoi ancestry
■ The DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture originated at the UFS as a way of expediently supporting the arts, as well as the academe DF Malherbe was the first professor of Afrikaans in South Africa Beyond his literary career, he was also the rector of the UFS from 1929 to 1934, and again in 1941
MUSICAL SHOW CELEBRATES LANGUAGE
A heartfelt musical celebration titled Mooiste Afrikaanse Liedere is presented in the Odeion Auditorium on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) on Thursday, 8 May
The event, commemorating 100 years of Afrikaans as an official language, features a hand-picked selection of beloved Afrikaans art songs: from the haunting melodies of S Le Roux Marais and the nostalgia of Koos du Plessis, to the poetic genius of com-
posers like Arnold van Wyk, Gideon Fagan and Pieter de Villiers
Featured are Teresa de Wit, mezzo-soprano, and Lesley-Ann Mathews, pianist and accompanist
De Wit brings decades of operatic experience to the stage She has captivated audiences in leading roles, from Carmen to La Traviata, and has performed major sacred works With three cum laude music degrees from the University of the Free State, she
now shares her expertise as a lecturer at the Odeion School of Music and the Kimberley Music Academy (KMA) Mathews graduated cum laude in Piano Performance from the Potchefstroom University and later earned her master’s degree in chamber music under Albie van Schalkwyk
Buy tickets at quicket co za or at the door (card sales only) at R100 for adults and R50 for pensioners, students and learners
Elani Volschenk,trust officer.
Nothando Khanyile,trust assistant.
Visionaries unleash their artistry
TEBOHO SETENA
Emerging designers with incredible vision from within the Mangaung Metro, made a statement with their creative garments at Bloem Show’s fashion show on 27 April
They unleashed unique African craftsmanship on the runway
The collection ranged from streetwear and modern African garments, ideal for the upcoming winter and summer seasons – in addition to setting a new swimwear trend for the warmer weather
These were designs by Sherley Magqaza (ShirQreates Pty Ltd), Kgalaletso Letsoalo (K-Compass), Sivu Guda (Dezzanna Tranx) and Audrey Tladi (ASL)
These designers were delighted to showcase the flair for fashion they hold at their fingertips at the Bloem Show, especially since this was a first at the consumer event which marked 142 years
The fashion show was presented in partnership with the Ms World Plus pageant
“Bloem Show is a great platform to showcase our fashion brands, especially because most people did not
know about us as local designers until they saw our work It is not an easy industry – you need to be consistent, let your work speak for you, and be willing to learn more from those who have been in the game for a long time,” said Magqaza
Her creations included the Basotho’s royal fabric, shweshwe, and a kimono, a garment worn with a bikini swimsuit bottom and top Magqaza studied Fashion Design at the Thaba Nchu campus of the Motheo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College
“We were privileged to showcase our winter collection at the presti-
gious Bloem Show,” said Letsoalo
“Our latest collection, titled Winter Fall, was designed to welcome the cold season with style, combining a rich palette of navy, grey, green, and white
“This experience was made even more rewarding by working with exceptional models and having the opportunity to present our vision to a wider audience”
Letsoalo’s standout creations included a skater dress and knife-pleated velvet ladies’ suit
“It perfectly reflects our dedication to craftsmanship, bold design, and detail,” said Letsoalo a graduate of the
Motheo TVET College
For Tladi, her work and creativity came in the exploration of rich African heritage, and the stylish creation of modern African dresses
“I think it is a great opportunity and platform, especially for us upcoming designers,” she said Tladi studied at the Motheo TVET College and the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State The Bloem Show fashion show tied in with World Design Day, observed annually on 27 April It highlights the role of pioneers in design, and innovation in job creation and economic development
A model in a kimono,worn with a swimwear bikini top and bottom – one of the creations by Sherley Magqaza Photos: Teboho Setena
Models in modern African design by Audrey Tladi.
Sherley Magqaza,fashion designer Kgalaletso Letsoalo (left) with a model in a knife-pleated velvet ladies’suit
A model exhibiting the shweshwe-inspired creation of Sherley Magqaza
Streetwear outfits by Sivu Guda
