Ntombela was re-elected as Premier in the provincial legislature on Wednesday.

Her election follows the swearing in of 30 members of the provincial legislature for the 6th democratic administration in Bloemfontein.

Zanele Sifuba has been nominated unopposed as the speaker, Lucy Mapena is now the deputy speaker, while former Maluti-a-Phofung Mayor, Vusi Tshabalala is the Chief Whip.

But Ntombela is expected to make changes in the legislature so that it will comprise at last 50% women and youth.

She said is time women get recognition they deserve and she will make sure that when the new executive is announced there be gender representation.

Members of the Alliance also called on the premier to balance the executive council.

Philip Kganyago, SACP provincial spokesperson, said they would welcome the mixture of experience and youth in the executive.

SANCO Free State Secretary, Bakoena Ramosie, says that the province must consider reducing the number of executives.

Cosatu Free State spokesperson Monyatso Mahlatsi adds they would be happy with a balanced gender representation.

Meanwhile, the ANC in the province has distanced itself from a leaked list of preferred MEC candidates in the province.

Party spokesperson Thabo Meeko says the leaked document creates confusion and division within the party. The list includes members who presided over some of the embattled municipalities in the province.

The ANC Women’s League in the province has also lambasted the release of the so-called fake list.

However, the league called for promotion for equal gender representation when the final list is finally released.

Ntombela said her second term will be directed by growing the economy also addressing a number of challenges in the province that include service delivery.

OFM News