Free State Health MEC, Tate Makgoe, has expressed his concern at the rising number of COVID-19 cases in several schools and has urged learners to exercise extreme caution as the virus continues to batter the province.
The Kagiso Trust has come to the aid of children living with autism who were left stranded when their old school, the Blaize Academy for Autism and Children with Learning Barriers in Bloemfontein, closed down almost a year ago.
The department of Health in the Free State has denied reports that certain areas are given preferential treatment within the Metsimaholo municipality when it comes to the availability of ambulance services.
The Free State government is holding roadshows to educate people about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) as a means to prevent HIV infection from sexual contact, especially HIV negative people at risk of contracting the virus from their partners.
Parents and community members in Mangaung, in the Free State, were shocked by the news that 53 learners and seven teachers, including the headmaster, at Grey College Secondary School in Bloemfontein tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday.
Police had to intervene after a group of Botshabelo residents threatened to go on the rampage after buying food items which had expired.
The EFF has lauded the work done by the Hawks which saw Dr David Motau, CEO of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and former Free State health head of department, appear in court on Monday alongside his fellow accused on charges of defrauding the department of R8.7 million.
Parents of learners in Free State schools have threatened to shutdown schools should they reduce social distancing rules which will allow more learners in a classroom at a time.
Several Free State churches have ignored President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to safely resume religious gatherings where church services are allowed to only accommodate 50 worshippers indoors and a maximum of 100 outdoors. This forms part of the adjusted alert Level 3 lockdown restrictions which kicked in as from 26 July.
Parents in Botshabelo in the Free State have expressed their anger at the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for instructing all primary school learners to return to school at once as from this past Monday (2 August). They say this move will put the lives of children in danger as the country slowly moves past the peak of COVID-19 infections during the third wave.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lifting of the alcohol sales ban recently has been blamed by the Botshabelo community for contributing to violence and car accidents in their area, while police have been accused of not enforcing the law.
Community members in the Botshabelo district in the Free State are urging health authorities to extend the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to local clinics. They claim the hospital currently identified as the main vaccination site isn’t coping with the influx of people.Â
The health of residents living in Botshsbelo is under serious threat and with their concerns falling on deaf ears within the Mangaung municipality, the number of tuberculosis cases are rising and fast.
Despite national regulations for public transport, taxi passengers in the Free State are refusing to wear masks and sanitise their hands. The taxi association in Botshabelo is calling on passengers to adhere to regulations as Covid-19 infections continue in the province.
The Free State Department of Health held a campaign in Warden to highlight mental health issues and the challenges of substance abuse. Community members attending the event shared their struggles.
