Dukwana is set to address the province on Tuesday 28 February 2023 at the University of the Free State’s Vista Campus, in the south of Bloemfontein. 

Political analyst, Sethulego Matebesi, said on top of the agenda for Dukwana’s address must be municipal performance. He said this is because the recent Auditor-General’s (AG) report revealed that not a single municipality within the province received a clean audit. 

“The national ruling party said they will give the issue attention. We're not sure how long this is going to take. Dukwana must address how municipalities will act accordingly and give the residents solutions to the problems currently faced,” he added. He also mentioned that there are still areas in the province where residents use pit toilets. This has to be solved because it is an insult to residents. “I could go on and on about the issues that the premier must address – job creation and the high crime rate are also on the list.”

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“One of the biggest challenges the people within the province are faced with is the state of roads – this needs to be addressed immediately,” said the Democratic Alliance’s leader in the province, Roy Jankielsohn. He explained that many of the towns in the province have become an island economy because it is difficult for people to access those towns due to the road conditions. After some time, this will lead to the closure of businesses because the businesses in those towns are inaccessible. Jankielsohn mentioned that the province is a very agricultural province, and this depends on the state of the roads. “The former premier Sisi Ntombela promised during her 2022 SOPA that roads within the province will be restored to their former glory. This was, however, not done.” 

He further placed emphasis on how the state of the health sector must be looked into. He said this follows the high number of complaints they have received across the province concerning the quality of the health sector. Jankielsohn also mentioned the issue of water and he believes this should be on the list of the premier.

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The Freedom Front Plus’ (FF Plus) leader in the province, Armand Cloete, explained that the FF Plus doesn’t really have a lot of expectations from the SOPA because they are of the view that promises will be made, but not delivered. 

“We do, however, wish that the premier will make known the plans they have for businesses, which were badly affected by load-shedding,” he said. The need to upgrade the health sector was also mentioned by Cloete as he says hospitals and clinics are falling apart with no plan in place. 

“The biggest worry for the FF Plus is the state of local government. Our municipalities are a mess, and unfortunately the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has not been able to bring about any positive change,“ Cloete stated. He also made mention that unemployment in the province must be looked into because it remains high.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the province had not sent their wish list for the premier by the time of publishing.

OFM News