The party’s leader in the province, Patricia Kopane, has been highly critical of the Botshabelo and Phuthaditjhaba industrial parks of late dismissing the parks’ alleged success and revitalisation of the area as a fallacy. In his February State of the Nation Address (Sona) President Cyril Ramaphosa emphatically announced the success of not only the Free State based Parks, but of 16 others countrywide including the areas of Garankuwa, Isithebe, Komani and Seshego. Ramaphosa stressed how the industrial parks form part of the country's plans to accelerate economic growth and create jobs in the country. Kopane maintains, on the other hand, that the two areas and others surrounding it continue to be ravaged by high unemployment and crippling poverty contrary to Ramaphosa’s announcement. The DA Leader will be speaking to industrialists in the area as a part of her visit.

Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, revealed in her State of the Province Address (Sopa), on February 19, that over 900 jobs have been created at the two industrial parks in the province and further announced the provincial government’s commitment to work closely with Ramaphosa’s investment team on boosting the province’s sluggish economy. The government says there are plans in motion that will ensure the parks undergo the next phases of revitalisation indicating that more development is to come.

Over 10 kms away from Botshabelo lies Thaba Nchu. Days before Ntombela took to the podium at the University of the Free State’s South Campus to deliver her address, Thaba Nchu residents took to the streets demanding answers to questions about lack of development in the town since 1994. Community leader, Tsietsi Peketa, told OFM News the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality appears to have deserted the people of Thaba Nchu and the conditions of service delivery in the town continue to deteriorate with unemployment and poverty continuing to rise. The current condition of Thaba Nchu, as reported by residents, supports Kopane’s assertions on the lack of development in areas surrounding Botshabelo.

OFM News