Free State steps up to the plate
Public servants in the Free State have rolled up their sleeves and doubled efforts to improve the overall wellbeing of the province and its people. And the efforts are reaping rewards in areas such as education, economic transformation and youth development.
The Free State province has endured a recent history of service delivery challenges and unstable governance. But by implementing key interventions on the ground, the province appears to be emerging from this period of turmoil.
Appointed in 2018, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela has been at the helm of this resurgence. She delivered encouraging news about the province's recent achievements and future plans, in her recent State of the Province Address.
The Premier is particularly proud of the province's progress in improving access to quality education and providing education infrastructure.The province has more than 1 400 schools, serving more than 713 000 learners.
Excelling at basic education
The Free State's heavy investment in education has been reflected in outstanding matric results for the province. In 2016 and 2017, the province recorded the highest matric pass rate in the country and again took top spot in 2019, with a pass rate of 88.4 percent.
“Our education achievements are excellent. We reclaimed our number one spot for the third time since the implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement. No other province has achieved this feat,” she noted.
The Premier previously identified expanding early childhood development and better recruitment of teachers as key to the province's education success.
Dedication to youth development
Premier Ntombela has recognised the need to focus on youth development. In fact, the Premier dedicated her State of the Province Address to the youth.
She called on public servants to commit themselves to serving the youth.
“Our youth need us. We cannot afford to let them down. I call on all public servants to recommit themselves and work differently. We want what is best for our youth. Focusing on our youth, economic growth and employment creation will in this coming financial year be our main priority.”
She highlighted several notable achievements in the youth devel
opment space, including bursaries and employment provided to youth in the agriculture sector – the province's biggest economic sector.
“Of the 175 young people who were awarded overseas bursaries by the Department of Agriculture, 46 have graduated and were placed in the department and some were retained in agri-businesses.A further 120 graduates have been placed in agri-businesses.”
The province's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has created around 50 000 job opportunities, and the target for the current financial year is 55 000.
Other initiatives targeted at the youth and emerging businesses will include the Koffiefontein Business Hub and Tabalaza Programme, which links businesses with potential investors for support and investment.
“We have offered R1 million to the National Youth Development Agency to increase financial and non-financial support to the youth. We are pleased that the agency is opening offices in some of our rural areas such as QwaQwa.”
Support for victims of abuse
In response to continuing violence against women and children, the province has invested in programmes providing support structures to victims.
Premier Ntombela said that two shelters have been opened in Wepenaar and Bothaville, and emphasis has been placed on appointing social workers.
“Nine million rand has been set aside for the appointment of an additional 16 social workers to be placed in the districts linked to Thuthuzela Care Centres, safe houses, shelters and victimfriendly centres. Forensic nurses will be placed in all Thuthuzela Care Centres to respond to gender-based violence.”
In addition, R13 million has been budgeted for the establishment of new shelters and programmes to raise awareness of gender-based violence.
“We need to break down the cultural, institutional and societal practices that continue to imprison our women and children,” said the Premier.
Stabilising local government
With a number of local municipalities under provincial administration, Premier Ntombela said that the province is steadily stamping out issues such as maladministration, poor financial management and inadequate service delivery.
“Provincial Treasury is providing technical support to municipalities in distress. Positive results to ensure compliance with the Municipal Finance Management
Act are being realised. Training is also being provided to municipalities in areas such as strategic planning and management, municipal budgeting, supply chain and finance.”
She acknowledged that although much has been achieved in the province in terms of improving living conditions for residents, public servants should tackle the remaining challenges with renewed determination.
“As we look to the future, we need to turn our challenges into opportunities for growth and development of our province. Guided by the wishes of our people, our energies shall be on the implementation of the priorities we have identified.”
The Premier stressed that while public servants are key to the growth of the province, there is also a need for partnerships and for all sectors to work together.