#FSSOPA: Ntombela to set the tone for her Exco

Central SA

─── LUCKY NKUYANE 08:00 Mon, 28 Feb 2022

The Free State premier, Sisi Ntombela, is Monday morning expected to set the tone for her provincial government during her State of the Province Address (SOPA).

Ntombela will be forced to focus sharply on the implementation of policies that need to lay the basis for the creation of jobs and deal with corruption, amongst others. Ntombela's government is troubled by multimillion-rand failed projects and massive fraud and corruption, which involves essential departments like Health and Agriculture. Currently, former and current officials in the Health, Agriculture, and Human Settlements departments are facing charges which involve contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) where millions were allegedly looted from the government coffers.

Ntombela will address the residents of the province at the Dr Petrus Molemela indoor sports centre in Bloemfontein.

Ntombela's Sopa is also set to give members of the Executive Council (Exco) a guideline on how to address the troubles besieging the province, especially ailing municipalities which have been accused of failing to deliver services to the people.

Ntombela has been promising to root out corruption in her provincial government but despite the promises, more cases of such nature have been coming out to the public display.

OFM News previously reported that the Special Tribunal in South Africa set aside a controversial R39 million surgical gown tender awarded by the Free State Treasury.

However, this was not the first time Ntombela came out scathing against fraud and corruption. She was previously accused of undue interference in one of the departments and trying to influence tender processes.

In her SOPA on Monday, all eyes will be on her to see if she will give any updates or development in the multimillion-rand Old Ramkraal Prison project which continues to be a thorny issue for the Free State Provincial Government.

EFF provincial deputy chairperson, Matlhomalo Majake, previously told OFM News that despite the provincial government spending over R100 million on the aforementioned heritage site, nothing has happened.

OFM News