It’s understood the province has several unfinished or blocked projects running into millions. OFM News previously reported that a staggering R18 million was paid for a project that was set to build a stadium in Van Stadensrus, situated in the cash-strapped Mangaung Metro Municipality in the Free State.

ALSO READ: R18m used for non-operational Free State stadium

Another project includes the Kroonstad-based Boitumelo Hospital which has been under construction since 2003 with the project envisaged to end back in 2012 with millions of rands paid to different contractors.

ALSO READ: Health MEC Vows to deal with incompetent contractors – VIDEO

On Thursday 8 June 2023, Minister Sihle Zikalala will be visiting, among others, the Parys Correctional Facility and the Park Road Police Station, which ought to have been completed a long time ago but remain incomplete while monies are spent.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Sihle Zikalala, will on Thursday 8 June 2023 visit the Free State Province to respond and conduct audits on unfinished and blocked projects. A spokesperson for the department, Thami Mchunu, said Zikalala has prioritised unblocking blocked projects and accountability as part of efforts to turn around the public works and infrastructure sector and respond to service delivery needs.

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“The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is a cog in the delivery of services in South Africa as it builds and delivers infrastructure from which all departments render services to the citizens. The blocked construction of correctional facilities and police stations harm the national priority of creating safer communities and fighting a winnable war against crime”.

Zikalala will be joined by the MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure in the Free State Dibolelo Mance. Reports indicate that this facility was allocated R252 million but remains incomplete despite a significant chunk of this budget having been spent.  

“This will be followed by a visit to the SAPS Park Road Police Station. 

ALSO READ: Parly to probe stalled upgrades at Park Road Police Station

The Minister will investigate construction delays that have led to the cost ballooning while the infrastructure is not complete. The police station is in the top 30 of the stations, identified as having the highest crime rate in the country,” Mchunu added.

In March the DA in the Parys-based Ngwathe Local Municipality in the Free State expressed its serious concern with the lack of infrastructure maintenance resulting in a steep decline in service delivery by the municipality.

ALSO READ: DA flags Ngwathe for lack of infrastructure maintenance

DA councillor Saal de Jager said the municipality has over the years failed in its efforts to ensure residents have enough and sufficient water, among others.

OFM News previously reported that residents of Tumahole and other parts have been hit hard by the effects of water-shedding for at least two years.

ALSO READ: Free State residents 'forced to fetch water from manholes'

Without tankers delivering water, residents say they are forced to go to extreme measures to access water. Pictures doing the rounds on social media show senior citizens carrying buckets and fetching water from manholes around the area.

OFM News