Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela says the state of municipalities in the province remains dire. Ntombela, who’s been delivering the State of the Province Address in Bloemfontein, says they are working around the clock to mitigate the crisis.
SOPA Free State | Premier Sisi Ntombela delivers the State of the Province Address:
This after the province experienced several service delivery protests. Ntombela says they are determined to arrest the slump.
“Many of our municipalities are in a dire state. Running sewage on the streets, poor water supply and mismanagement are all too common.”
Committed to property transformation
Ntombela says the province is committed to property transformation and only companies with tried and tested proven track records will be appointed for all construction and revitalization programmes.
She says more than R50 million has been allocated for upgrades on gravel roads and the Pothole Repair Programme.
“Besides job creation, our townships revitalization program is equally facilitating local development program. Twelve township roads will be completed and launched at the end of this financial year. Two hundred and thirty-seven jobs have been created as the results of the township revitalization program. And 300 job opportunities will be created through this intervention.”
Ntombela said one of the worst challenges facing the province is unemployment, especially among the young people. Ntombela was referring to comments and inputs her office received from members of the public prior to the State of the Province Address.
“We are pleased with developments in our Phuthaditjhaba, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu Industrial Parks to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in these disadvantaged areas. The Digital Hub in the Botshabelo Industrial Park is now open for business. The Hub is home for an ecosystem that is driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.
