“In the next 14 months, we shall take decisive action to make the Free State a province of choice. We will leverage on our location at the heart of South Africa, a reality upon which our development must be based.”
This was said as part of the introduction by the newly elected premier of the Free State, Mxolisi Dukwana, at his State of the Province Address (Sopa) at the Vista campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) at the opening of the Legislator on Tuesday.
“The past few years have challenged the Free State on multiple levels,” Dukwana said, focusing on the high unemployment rate of 33,8% in the third quarter of 2022. This means that a third of Free State residents are unemployed.
Dukwana says that 50 082 jobs were created through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
“One of the key drivers of economic growth and job creation is our small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In the current financial year, 869 enterprises were provided with financial and non-financial support, of which 472 were youth-owned.”
Dukwana went on to talk about development zones, as well as the need to upgrade infrastructure throughout the province.
“Whilst some progress has been made with the expansion and upgrading of infrastructure, we have not consistently kept up with the required maintenance.”
He said the time has come to rethink the way in which the province plans and implements infrastructure investments.
“The deteriorating state of our road infrastructure is a stumbling block for economic development. Whilst we will spend approximately R1,9 billion on upgrading and maintaining our road infrastructure this year, it is imperative that we change the ways and means in which road service delivery happens. International best practices have shown that road construction can happen in a more efficient and effective manner. The Free State provincial government will be exploring the implementation of solutions such as 24-hour road construction.”
He said upgrades, with an allocation of R1 billion to the R25 road between Ladybrand and Bethlehem and the R70 road between Ficksburg and Rosendal, would be prioritised.
A total of R165 million is budgeted for road infrastructure in the next financial year for the Mangaung Metro.
Dukwana said they have embarked on a process to acquire inner-city properties in major urban centres to provide affordable rental housing. This includes vacant land, dilapidated buildings, and existing buildings in the inner cities for repurposing.
He referred to curruption in the province.
“A plan of action to implement the recommendations of the Zondo Commission has been developed and submitted to the Presidency. We will implement this plan, relating to various matters in the Free State,” he said.
“It is imperative that we restore the integrity and credibility of our government. Never again will this province be used as the breeding ground for corruption,” he said on Tuesday.
Dr Roy Jankielsohn, DA leader in the Free State Legislature, said Dukwana would find it difficult to effectively manage the myriad of issues facing the province, seeing the state in which his predecessors had left the province.
“The ANC’s false united front in the legislature hides the deep disunity and factionalism which is entrenched within the ANC,” Jankielsohn said after the speech.
Armand Cloete of the FF Plus said at the address Dukwana had no plans to tackle the consequences of load shedding on the agriculture sector and businesses.
“There were also no plans to make the province less dependent on Eskom.”
