LAV Production House

15/02/2025

LAV REPORTS: Baseball Coaching Clinic held in Heidedal on 16 February.

The Free State Coaching clinic will be hosting a Baseball Coaching Clinic to help local players get ready for the National Baseball Championships that will be held in Cape Town at the Bothasig Baseball fields.

The Coaching Clinic will be held at the Heidedal Cricket Oval next to Heatherdale Secondary School on 16 February 2025 from 10:00 am.

President of the Free State Baseball Union,Clifton Barnes,mentioned that this will also help with the development of players, and will educate first time players about the rules and regulations of the game.

"Since Baseball is a new Sporting Code in the community, the Heidedal Community will benefit from the Coaching Clinic. We will develop the Sports code in all our schools in Heidedal and also Free State as a whole," Barnes said.

The coach further added that there are thirteen players from Heidedal that have made the under 15, under 18 and under 23 age groups, which is a big achievement for Heidedal.

"I would like to see our community using this opportunity that has been on their doorsteps, to the fullest! Free State Baseball Union is in a process to bring this prestigious tournament to Bloemfontein in Heidedal for 2026, and this will boost our local economy," Barnes concluded.

11/02/2025

LAV REPORTS: Heidedal Sports Council ready to uplift sports facilities in Heidedal.

The Heidedal Sports Council( HSC) hosted a meeting with various stakeholders at the Clive Solomon Stadium on 11 February.

As said by the council's marketing director, Romario Terblanche, this was held in order for the council to propose a mandate of officially taking charge of heidedal sports facilities.

"We want to build our own framework to maintain our stadiums in order to give back to the community as well as develop sports in schools again," Terblanche mentioned.

Various stakeholders including SANCO chairperson, Re*****on Louw, had various inputs, mentioning that initiatives such as HSC, can create jobs by employing the youth through sport.

Louw further added that SANCO has created a detailed plan that if put into action, can easily employ 450 members of the community.

It was further mentioned that the HSC will have monthly meetings to discuss financing and how it will be utilised in order to maintain transparency between the council and the community.

Management of HSC include, Franklin Swiegels(treasurer),Barry Jakobus (chairperson of HSC), Romario Terblanche (marketing director), Lynne Colbert (additional member), Maxime Rose (Vice-chairperson of HSC) and Ace Beckmann (additional member). Additional members could unfortunately not attend the meeting.

The HSC can be found on Faceback at: Heidedal Sports Community

Journalist: Abigail Visagie
Images: SUPPLIED

10/02/2025

News Update: AIID Probes Heidedal Aircraft Incident

A Medevac aircraft, registration ZW-LFW King Air 200, was involved in a harrowing incident on Saturday, February 8, 2025, while approaching Bloemfontein Airport after a flight from Kimberley. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, either on the ground or among the crew on board, which consisted of two pilots, a doctor, and a paramedic.

According to eyewitnesses, the pilot received a door warning light in the cockpit, shortly after which the door detached from the aircraft. The detached door was retrieved by a security company in a parking area at the Twin City Mall in Heidedal and returned to the operator.

The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) has launched an investigation into the incident. A preliminary report is expected to be published on the SACAA website within 30 days. As the investigation unfolds, more details about the incident are likely to emerge.

Image used for illustrative purposes

10/02/2025

LAV REPORTS: Thirty years later and still no improvement during heavy rain for Mozart street.

Former ward 16 councillor turned PR Councillor, John de Bruin, has lived in Mozart street, heidedal, for more than 30 years and mentioned that this street including Paper and Witherow street, suffers significantly during flash floods and heavy rains.

Mangaung residents experienced a flash flood on 7 February and although the flash flood subsided, it left Mozart street covered in stagnant water due to blocked main holes.

De Bruin mentioned that the heavy rains blocks four of the main holes found in Witherow hence the water stagnates in various streets as well.

"Our entire sewerage system is outdated, Mangaung is growing and since the main holes leading to East end is found in Witherow street, the street can no longer handle the pressure," de Bruin said.

The PR Councillor mentioned that he has lodged a complaint about this matter since his inception as a ward councillor in 2016.

"This matter was then given to the Mangaung Metro Municipality's( MMM) engineers and yet we are still waiting for a solution," de Bruin added

De Bruin suggested that MMM should try to install at least two to three stormwater channels in Paper, Witherow and Mozart street.

He has confirmed that the ball is rolling. "I've scheduled meetings with the relevant parties, including the head of department for infrastructure for feedback and to see whether this matter can be placed on the IDP of 2025's budget," de Bruin concluded

This is a developing story.

Journalist: Abigail Visagie
Images: SUPPLIED

08/02/2025

LAV REPORTS: Incident claims one life in Dr Belcher Road.

During the evening of February 8 around 8:30pm, a male driver drove in Dr Belcher Road toward Engine garage when three males who were allegdly intoxicated, abruptly crossed the road resulting in the death of one African male.

Heidedal community leader, Richardo van der Walt, has confirmed that the relevant authorities were alerted and immediately fled to the scene. Forensics have been contacted and the scene has been cleared.

Images: SUPPLIED

08/02/2025

BREAKING NEWS: Unidentified airplane door lands in Twin City mall.

An airplane door landed on the premises of popular shopping complex, Twin City mall, on 8 February.

Patrons of the shopping complex were astonished as the door landed right out of the sky in front of an entrance at the mall around 4:20 pm.

South African Police Service(SAPS) spokesperson, captain Lorraine Earle has confirmed that there were no fatalities nor injuries on scene and that the door did not belong to SAPS.

It has also been confirmed by 87 Helicopter Flying School that no flights were scheduled for the day by the school and that the door did not belong to the school as well.

It was confirmed by a member of the community that Aerocare Air Ambulance was on scene to ensure that no one was injured and allegedly collected the door.

It is still to be confirmed whether the South African Civil Aviation Athorities (SACAA) were on scene as well as the outcomes of further investigations pertaining the airplane door.

Images: SUPPLIED

05/02/2025

Water supply interruptions to be expected

Manguang Metro Municipality (MMM) notified residents of Mangaung about the upcoming water supply interruptions on 12 February 2025.

According to MMM spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, this due to the city's water supplier, Vaal Central Water, currently working on the steel pipe connection on the Longridge take-off, the Bloemspruit take-off as well the Slysteenberg take-off.

"Water tanks will be dispatched to the affected areas, the city would also like to apologise for the inconvenience caused," Khedama concluded.

The steel pipe connections will affect various areas in Manguang such as Bergman,Grassland,Heidedal, Peter Swartz and adjacent areas.

Compiled by: Moleboheng Raqhemenyane

Image source: https://apexcos.com/what-we-do/water/water-supply/

03/02/2025

Heidedal Swimming Club hosted its swimming gala at the Free State Swimming pool on February 1,2025. Various participants from the community were in attendance.

Established in 2014 by a group of friends, including the president of the Free State Sports Confederation (FSSC), Edward Saunderson, the Swimming Club was initiated to grant children in Heidedal the opportunity to participate in swimming.

"The Free State is fanatic about sport, they love their sport, so we need to focus on development in order to produce more athletes from the Free State," said Saunderson.

Journalist: Abigail Visagie
Videographer: Charles Human and Abigail Visagie.

Here are a few highlights and interviews at the event:

The Heidedal Swimming club hosted its swimming gala at the Free State swimming pool on February 1, 2025. Here are a few highlights of the event.

23/12/2024

Mitchelle Botes dies at age 63.

After a long battle against cancer, South African iconic actress,Mitchelle Botes, passed on December 21.

The actress was best known for her role as fiesty and fearless, "Cherel de Villiers" in Isidingo. Botes also starred in multiple television shows including Onder draai die Duiwel rond, Die Swart Kat, Wolwedans in Die Skemer, Konings, Binnelanders, and Legacy and won a SAFTA for her role in Legacy.

"Your commitment to your craft was inspirational. You had a light inside of you that was felt by all who were around you," Oh Talent management, who represented the actress said.

"Deepest condolences to your nearest and dearest," concluded Oh Talent.

Photos: Bruis Tydskrif