Free State Premier and newly elected African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general, Ace Magashule, has brought an early Christmas for the community of Matjhabeng in Welkom.
Magashule donated toys to hundreds of children and he officially opened the Thabong Service Centre.
The multi-purpose center will ensure that travelling long distances to access government services, is a thing of the past.
“There will be Home Affairs, Sassa, Destea. There will be social workers here. Christmas has come early for our children. We are boosting their moral,” he says.
The municipality of Matjhabeng is one of Free State municipalities with a high rate of unemployment and poverty. But during Saturday’s proceedings hope was written all over the faces of residents and they expressed their joy.
“I’m very excited, this is by mercy and grace of God that offices are here.We are happy that offices are here. I’m happy and grateful for what they have done,” says one resident.
Magashule says despite its challenges, the ANC is committed to improving the socio- economic conditions of ordinary people.
