The debate about the 2024 State of the Province Address (Sopa), held in the chamber of the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein, quickly descended into a spectacle of political animosity and personal attacks, culminating in the ejection of the DA’s premier candidate.

The focal point of the confrontation between members of the ruling party and the DA’s Roy Jankielsohn arose when he issued a veiled threat towards Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, asserting the DA would deal with him outside the ANC. 

The 2024 Sopa was debated in the Chamber of the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein. Picture: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

“Speaker, the opposition will deal with the premier outside of the ANC but Magashule and Zuma are busy, as we speak, dealing with him inside the ANC,” said Jankielsohn.

The Speaker of the Free State Provincial Legislature, Ntombizanele Sifuba, requested Jankielsohn to leave the chamber after failing to withdraw his statement. Sifuba said the matter would be referred to the ethics committee. 

The EFF also did not attend the Sopa debate. Picture: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

Meanwhile, noticeable absentees at the Sopa debate were members of the EFF, who also did not attend Dukwana's second Sopa held in Qwaqwa last week either.

Meanwhile, Dukwana is expected to respond to the debate on Wednesday.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi db/cg