The Free State provincial government, led by premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, hosted a budget exco planning lekgotla on Wednesday (22/10) at Imvelo Safari Lodge outside Bloemfontein. A week ago, the province welcomed the improved 2024/2025 audit outcomes compared to previous financial years, affirming a journey set towards good governance.

Letsoha-Mathae outlined her administration’s firm stance on accountability, performance, and timely service delivery during Wednesday’s lekgotla. In an interview with the OFM News team, Letshoha-Mathae addressed community concerns regarding the termination of contracts on the R708 between Clocolan and Thaba Nchu.

The R708 road project contract was terminated due to non-performance by the appointed contractor. After a significant time, the project had achieved only 3% progress despite being allocated sufficient time and resources, said Letsoha-Mathae. 

The seventh administration will not tolerate poor performance or prolonged delays in project completion, the premier warned.

She compared the situation to previous long-delayed public infrastructure projects. “If a contractor has been on site for six months or even a year and progress remains at only 3%, then it’s clear that the project will never be completed on time. 

Budget EXCO Planning Lekgotla at Imvelo Safari Lodge. Photo: Facebook

“We don’t want to have projects that take 15 years to finish.”

During the tender process, three contractors are assessed. “So if they terminate one, they go back to the other two and work together with treasury, especially around issues of the cost of the project.”

When a contractor is terminated, the government can appoint one of the two remaining pre-assessed contractors without restarting the tender process, she added. “People are not interested in plans that remain on paper; they want to see tangible change in their daily lives.”

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OFM News/Eva Molekane