This after Ramaphosa revealed in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday, February 7, that Botshabelo, located about 60 kilometres from Bloemfontein, and Phuthaditjhaba, in the eastern parts of the province, have been revitalised and are now productive again after being idle for long.

However, provincial party leader, Patricia Kopane, refutes Ramaphosa’s claims as opportunistic and misleading.

According to her, the two areas continue to be ravaged by high unemployment and crippling poverty.

Ramaphosa stressed in his address that in order for the country to create jobs, certain levels of economic growth need to be achieved and this cannot be done without “massive new investment”.

The acceleration of economic growth and creation of jobs was named by Ramaphosa as one of five urgent tasks that government must undertake currently.

“The inaugural South Africa Investment Conference in October last year provided great impetus to our drive to mobilise R1.2 trillion in investment over five years. The Investment Conference attracted around R300 billion in investment pledges from South African and international companies. A huge success indeed.”

Kopane however says the areas surrounding the identified industrial parks are now even worse off.

She alleges: “there is slow infrastructure development at Tshiame Special Economic Zone, which is 30km away from Phuthaditjhaba and it has been hampered by the collapse of bulk services.”  

Kopane adds that in Thaba Nchu, located about 10 kilometres outside Botshabelo, 90% of the factories have been closed and have not been revived as promised.  

OFM News has been informed that disgruntled Thaba Nchu residents plan on embarking on protest action next week to voice their frustrations at the lack of service delivery in the town.

The Sona will be debated in Parliament from next Tuesday. The President is set to deliver his replies on Thursday.

OFM News