Bloemfontein
On Wednesday, 09 October 2024, Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae (pictured) convened the first Premier’s Coordinating Forum (PCF) for the 7th administration at OR Tambo House in Bloemfontein. The forum brought together leaders from the national, provincial, and municipal levels to tackle pressing issues affecting municipalities in the province. Discussions focused on water and sanitation services, service delivery quality, asbestos removal, municipal audit outcomes, and strategies for driving local economic development.
In her keynote address, Premier Letsoha-Mathae emphasized the urgent need to improve essential services across the province, particularly in water, sanitation, electricity, and infrastructure development. Acknowledging the challenges faced by municipalities, she called for collective action across all spheres of government to address these issues.
The Premier highlighted the crucial role of the District Development Model (DDM) in fostering collaboration, cohesiveness, and an integrated approach to overcoming service delivery challenges in communities. The forum acknowledged the ongoing investments by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) aimed at improving water infrastructure and resolving the asbestos roofing crisis.
Premier Letsoha-Mathae stressed the importance of ensuring these projects are completed on schedule and to the highest standards. Discussions also revealed that several municipalities continue to struggle with issues such as poor water quality, sewer overflows, and outdated infrastructure.
The forum agreed on the need to intensify efforts and increase investment to fast-track the completion of critical water infrastructure projects.
The Premier reaffirmed that community involvement will be a priority for the 7th administration, with policies being enforced to ensure local service providers are included in future development projects. This approach aims to boost local ownership and promote economic growth within the province.
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