The Speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Ntombizanele Sifuba, tells OFM News this will be the first SOPA open to the public since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Amongst the 800 guests, 200 people will represent the media, including security and staff members. Sifuba explains it is going to be excellent to have the stakeholders, together with the public, present as the Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, officially opens the legislature for the year. Ntombela is further expected to address the successes and woes faced by the province on the day.

Sifuba explained that it is their duty as the legislature, since they are the public’s representative institution, to involve the public as much as they can in what they do. “Even though we are hopeful that many people will come, we are still mindful of the Covid-19 regulations,” she said.

READ MORE: #FSSOPA date slated for 28 February

OFM News previously reported that the 2022 SOPA will be held at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium on 28 February, whereby Ntombela will be discussing her plans for the year. She will outline the province’s successes, which include the class of 2021 being number one in the country, as well as its successful vaccination campaign.

However, the public is sitting with anticipation to hear what she will say about the financial woes of the provincial municipalities, following the disestablishment of the troubled waterboard, Sedibeng Water, that is owed over R7 billion by municipalities, with the Matjhabeng Municipality owing over R4,4 billion. 

The public is also expecting that she will address how the province was the third-highest contributor to fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the country behind Gauteng and the national government in the Auditor-General’s (AG) report.

OFM News