Lucas is expected to give her State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the venue on Thursday.  

Tsamaya Simons tells OFM News that he is interested to hear if Lucas will be increasing the allocation of funds towards education in the province. Simons explains that learners need to have access to resources so that they are able to perform academically. He says the people of the province are deeply perturbed by the unequal provision of education and are hopeful this will be remedied. 

Simons, who is a guest at the event, says he is also keen to hear if the Premier will focus on the availability of accommodation for tertiary students.

Guests will also be focusing on the parts of Lucas’ Address that will centre on health. In November 2018, it was revealed the Northern Cape department of health was facing litigation amounting to R1.2 billion and more than R340 million in notices of the intention to litigate. OFM News reported previously that the Democratic Alliance’s Andrew Louw expressed concern that this would affect the department’s budget and that the money could have been better used for service delivery.

OFM News' Katleho Morapela  reports government officials and members of the public attending the Northern Cape Sopa says they are are hopeful Lucas' speech will restore confidence in the provincial leadership and outline challenges to be addressed this year. While some are looking forward to hear about opportunities that lies ahead, others are awaiting to hear how the province is going to help tackle the many socio-economic challenges experienced in the province. 

The ANC Chairperson in the province, Zamani Saul, told OFM News he is expecting the premier to address questions about high youth unemployment rates, and how the government plans to deal with the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment face by many communities in the province.

According to the latest report by Stats SA the province ranks number 2 when it comes to youth uemployment, led by the Eastern Cape.

The number of young people aged between 15-24 who are unemployed and not in formal training, stands at over 35%.

The Free State and Northern Cape's Regional Commisioner for the Correctional Services, Subashini Moodley, who is also in attendance, told OFM News she is expecting the premier to outline what the province has achieved in the past five years and what her plans are for this year.

She further commands the province for the work they have done in lending a helping hand to the department whenever they called on them.

She says although there has been improvements in correctional services and in how the province has helped address issues pertaining to crime, more still needs to be done.

OFM News/Olebogeng Motse and Katleho Morapela