The new Free State Provincial Council has a huge task ahead of it to improve service delivery. Residents have expressed frustration over the deterioration of basic services. After the swearing-in ceremony of the new Provincial Councillors, they promised to roll up their sleeves and get to work, starting with carrying out various unannounced visits.
Once sworn in, the newly appointed executive members got to work right away. They made an unannounced visit to Pelonomi Hospital and found alarming conditions, including non-functioning toilets and a shortage of staff, blankets and beds.
“It's unfortunate. These are not the conditions people should be working in. I asked them how they would feel if this was their home. This is a management issue and the MEC is meeting to deal with it,” Premier McQueen Letsoha Matae said.
Residents point to setbacks in service delivery and have a long list of expectations.
“We want change. We don't want things to stay the same as before,” the resident said.
“I changed parties because it doesn't seem like they're doing anything different. We're just suffering from services,” said another resident.
“I see a lot of people coming in, so they must be working first,” the resident explains.
Councilman Diborello Mance, the council member for Public Works and Infrastructure, is the only council member returning to his previous role. He appreciates the continuity and said he will continue to build momentum.
“My final point is this issue of making sure we have support for our municipalities. Remember, Public Works and Infrastructure is the department that is responsible for paying your water and utility bills, like your water bills and your electric bills, and they are responsible for making sure we are doing what we really should be doing, because some of the challenges that municipalities have today are due to us not being there, even more than the maintenance of government buildings.”
Zanele Shifuba is excited and ready to begin her role. She served as Chairperson in the previous administration. She believes that her past roles have given her the necessary background to enter the field of sports, arts and culture.
“Sport can be used for nation-building, social cohesion and the development of arts and culture. So I'm excited. It's a new field, a new environment, but I'm a quick learner, so I'll be able to hit the ground running and work closely with the people already in the department.”
Letsoha Masae stressed that health will be one of her main focuses as it affects everyone.
Video: Provincial Assembly Opens – Free State MPs sworn in and begin work
