The Free State recorded its first cases of the Novel Coronavirus yesterday, making it the first province in Central South Africa to record such cases. Subsequently, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has embarked on a visit to Bloemfontein where he will announce the details of the cases and provide support to the province.

Provincial Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, has confirmed the Covid-19 screening will include 200 parents and 600 Grade 1,2 and 3 learners. While Mkhize is accompanied by the Health MEC Montseng Tsiu and Premier Sisi Ntombela, expectations are high that all eyes in the provincial legislature will be on the province’s 2020/21 budget debate and how allocations made to the different departments will be utilised.

The EFF’s Chairperson, Mandisa Makeseni, confirms they have several concerns regarding the Budget tabled by Treasury’s MEC Gadija Brown on 5 March and will be detailing some of them before the House today.

OFM News previously reported that the budget tabled by Brown, saw the Education and Health Departments once again receive the biggest slices of the cake, which is a move welcomed by oppositions, although they raised concerns about accruals within these two departments and the state of service delivery rendered in the province.

Following the first confirmed Free State COVID-19 cases, expectations are high that the state of the province’s readiness and the Health Department’s R11.951 billion budget will be amongst those under scrutiny in the provincial legislature.

OFM News