By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana announced that about R1.9 billion will be invested on roads as part of the township revitalisation programme in the province.
Dukwana delivered the 2024 State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Qwaqwa.
The premier said roads will be prioritised as they are key to driving the economy of the province, especially in the agricultural sector.
He said, “We escalated our roads construction and maintenance programme by transferring 568.75 km of road to SANRAL during October 2023. This includes the R26 between Ladybrand and Bethlehem, the R34 from the North West provincial border at Bloemhof to the KZN border at Vrede and the R74 from Harrismith to Oliviershoek.”
Eskom relief programme
Dukwana said ailing municipalities will be participating in the Eskom debt-relief programme to provide funding for the rollout of smart metre programmes.
He said a distribution agency agreement with the financially troubled Maluti A Phofung’s municipality will be launched.
Dukwana further said that the municipality owes Eskom more than R7 billion.
“We are actively encouraging and supporting municipalities to participate in the Eskom debt relief programme. The introduction of the smart-metre conditional grant recently announced by the Minister of Finance will benefit municipalities that participate in the Eskom debt relief programme. This will enhance the existing provincial initiative to provide funding for the roll-out of smart metre programmes in municipalities such as Tswelopele,” he added.
EFF boycott SOPA.
The EFF in the Free State has once more taken a bold stance after it decided to boycott the 2024 State of the Province Address (SOPA).
Eff Provincial Chairperson, Mapheule Liphoko said this decision is premised on how the government of the day disregards and undermines the dignity and livelihoods of our people. He claims the Provincial Legislature has failed to fulfill its oversight role over the executive and has been used to rubberstamp the ANC-led government’s incompetence and deliberate failures. He referred to this year’s SOPA as a money-siphoning event.
“SOPA has been used as a platform to mislead the public with blatant lies and false promises by Dukwana and his predecessors. The state of municipalities has worsened under the rule of the ANC and Dukwana. Municipalities are not financially solvent and liquid, there is no service delivery happening.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of FS Legislature.