Dr Molifinyana Phera has been permanently appointed as director-general after serving in an acting capacity for several months. He replaces Kopung Ralikontsane, who is currently part of a national Cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) intervention team deployed to Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West.

Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae’s spokesperson, Matshediso Setai, has been permanently appointed the chief director for government communication services in the Free State office of the premier. 

Both Dr Phera and Setai will officially assume their new roles on 1 January 2026. 

Dr Phera, who was born and raised in Masilo township in Theunissen, brings extensive experience and a strong political background to the position. He entered the public service in July 1994 at the age of 21, starting at the entry level. 

In 2002, he was appointed to his first senior management position and has since accumulated 22 years of experience in senior and executive management services. An accomplished scholar in Governance and Law, Dr Phera holds a PhD, MA, LLM, LLB, and a BTech in Public Management, as well as several university-accredited diplomas.

Speaking to OFM News, Dr Phera outlined some of the key priorities of the provincial government under the leadership of Premier Letsoha-Mathae. 

‘The beginning of a focused and purposeful term of office’

These include building strong internal capacity to enhance service delivery and creating job opportunities across the province. He also revealed that youth-focused programmes will be rolled out in the new year.

Dr Phera further acknowledged that the current administration is dealing with long-standing challenges related to financial mismanagement inherited from previous administrations, noting that corrective measures are already underway.

Setai welcomed the appointment alongside Dr Phera, describing it as the beginning of a focused and purposeful term of office aligned with the objectives of the 7th administration.

Matshediso Setai appointed chief director for government communication services in the Free State office of the premier. Photo: Facebook

“We commit to the people of the Free State that the provincial government in this 7th administration will be an accessible, available administration that is responding to the needs of the citizens of the Free State. 

“We are looking forward to a very robust engagement.”

Setai added that a major area of focus will be intensified interventions in distressed municipalities across the province. This includes resuscitating struggling municipalities through the deployment of qualified experts to support local government and enforce effective service delivery.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh