Finance MEC, Elzabe Rockman, has during the delivery of her mid-term budget announced that the Health Department will receive an amount of R17 million to supplement funds for medicine while the Education Department will receive an amount of more than R23 million for transfer to schools. Six other departments will also receive additional funds.

What has, however, come as a surprise to opposition parties is the staggering R74 721 million allocated to the Free State Office of the Premier. Members of the opposition parties have expressed their concerns over the state of service delivery in the province, stating that the office of the premier under former premier Ace Magashule was a custodian of corruption and only perpetuated patronage network and nepotism whilst communities had to bear the brunt of a lack of services. The DA's James Letuka told the House not much has changed under the current premier, Sisi Ntombela, and does not see why her office keeps getting more money. He further told the House that the state of these two biggest departments and municipalities in the province is on the verge of collapse while Ntombela is folding her arms.

Rockman, on the other hand, said the re-allocation of the budget to Ntombela's office is to address in-year pressures emanating from the provincial bursary programme and to address other services.

OFM News previously reported that the Department of Education is plagued by a high salary bill and Infrastructure backlog, whilst the Health Department battles to meet some of its obligations due to high vacancy rates, lack of resources including critical medication and millions they are forced to pay out in litigation cases.

OFM News