Free State Prime Minister MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae
Prime Minister of the Free State MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae pledged to restore the province’s struggling municipalities, calling 2026 the year of decisive action to restore local government and transform the economy.
“This commitment is about the endless pursuit of an efficient, ethical, capable, participatory, responsive, transparent and accountable local government. It is about the desire to reclaim our pride,” Letsoha-Mathae said in her State of the Province address (Sopa) in Bloemfontein on Friday.
She admitted that the condition of municipalities in the province was not encouraging, citing poor financial management, weak governance systems, institutional instability and the inadequate provision of basic services.
“While we understand this is unacceptable, our caring government is working hard to turn the tide and put things right. This is a timeless obligation enshrined in our Constitution,” the Prime Minister said.
“It is a moral obligation that must guide our collective efforts. Above all, it is a noble administrative responsibility that must shape our duty of service. For many of our people, this is about trust tested by history, experiences and expectations for a new era full of promise and opportunity.
“History will not absolve us; it will question us. It will ask us whether we have learned from the hardships of our past as we prepare the way for a better future. Surely we owe it to ourselves and the next generation to deliver an efficient and responsive government that serves its people?”
Letsoha-Mathae said unemployment in the Free State was gradually decreasing, adding that a slowdown in inflation would lower the cost of living while the power system had stabilized.
Her government was based on boosting inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty, tackling the high cost of living and building a capable, ethical and developmental state, she said.
“We are committed to implementing these priorities with compassion and determination – to serve the interests of our people, and nothing else. History will judge us not on whether we have spoken well, but on whether we have governed well; not on whether we have promised enough, but on whether we have delivered what we promised,” she said.
“Unemployment in the province fell from 38.5% in the second quarter of 2025 to 36.2% in the third quarter of the same year. This was a crucial drop from 2.3%. For the fourth quarter we are now at 37.2%.
“While this is concerning, we are working extremely hard to stem the tide of unemployment. Driven by lower inflation, we expect improved provincial economic growth of 1.85%.”
By 2025, the Free State Government has committed to creating 30,00 jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that we have exceeded this goal. Through our collective efforts across the three spheres of government, we have created 46 118 Comprehensive Public Works Program work opportunities in the province,” said Letsoha-Mathae.
Of these, 32,698 were generated by the provincial government and the municipalities. The Prime Minister said the target for 2026 was to create 44,134 jobs.
The urgent task ahead, she said, was to ensure sound financial management, stabilize the political and administrative divide in the province and initiate investigations into cases of maladministration.
“We are implementing required interventions in municipalities struggling to deliver basic services, strengthening governance, increasing municipal revenues and improving audit outcomes,” she said, noting that Nala, Matjhabeng, Masilonyana, Tokologo, Mafube, Nketoana and Kopanong municipalities had all been placed under administration to implement recovery plans, unhindered by ineffective leadership.
“People deserve better. We are working hard to accelerate the delivery of municipal infrastructure. By the end of June 2025, 93% of the total municipal infrastructure grant had been spent,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our bold infrastructure implementation plans for water, sanitation, roads and stormwater systems, high mast lights, solid waste disposal and pedestrian bridges are beginning to bear fruit. As part of the implementation of these infrastructure projects, 2,481 jobs have been created. We are building with ambition and vision for the benefit of our people.”
Eyaaz
mg.co.za
