By Roy Jankielsohn - DA Free State Leader
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed concerns following Premier McQueen Letsoha-Mathae’s recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), delivered today in Bloemfontein. While the Premier acknowledged several critical issues confronting the Free State, the DA questions the feasibility of her proposed solutions, especially given the challenges of securing the necessary budget and resources to implement them.
One of the Premier’s focal points was the urgent need for a transformative overhaul of the civil service. The DA agrees that a more efficient and effective civil service is essential for the province's progress. However, we emphasize that achieving this transformation requires a significant policy shift, starting with the abandonment of the ANC's cadre deployment policy. This policy has long been a root cause of corruption and maladministration in the Free State, and dismantling it will be a formidable challenge. Previous attempts by her predecessors to reform this system have met with limited success, casting doubt on the potential for meaningful change under the current administration.
The DA is particularly concerned about Premier Letsoha-Mathae’s track record during her tenure as MEC for Community Safety, Roads, and Transport. Despite holding this critical portfolio, she failed to address several key issues, including the deteriorating state of the province's roads and the dysfunctionality of licensing and testing stations. These facilities often suffer from a lack of basic resources, such as printing paper and toner, which has severely hampered their operations. The DA hopes that in her new role as Premier, she will be more effective in tackling these issues than she was in her previous position.
Looking ahead, one of the most pressing challenges facing the Free State is the alarming rate of youth unemployment, which currently affects 60% of the province's young people. The DA believes that the future economic health of the Free State hinges on the creation of an inclusive economy that integrates and supports this significant demographic. The Premier's plans must prioritize this issue if they are to have a lasting impact.
While the Premier’s vision for the Free State includes some promising objectives, the DA remains cautious. We will be vigilant in monitoring the implementation of these plans to ensure that they are not merely empty rhetoric but are backed by concrete actions and the necessary resources to bring about real, positive change for the people of our province. The DA stands ready to hold the Premier and her administration accountable and will continue to advocate for policies that truly benefit the residents of the Free State.
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