FREE State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae has admitted that the province faces major challenges due to numerous unfinished government projects.
She acknowledged that while several infrastructure and service delivery initiatives were launched, many were left unfinished, resulting in wasted resources and limited benefits for communities.
The Premier noted that these stalled projects have damaged public trust and slowed development in key sectors such as housing, roads, and public facilities.
In her State of the Province Address (Sopa) in Bloemfontein on Friday, 20 February, the Premier announced that an additional R1,4 billion will be allocated to incomplete projects.
"For the 2026/27 financial year, we have allocated R1.4 billion rands to complete existing projects. Focus will be on rural roads, small towns connectivity, and pothole eradication to drive agricultural growth, enable trade, eradicate poverty, and facilitate access to essential services.
"Again, ten new road construction and maintenance projects will be procured towards the end of this financial year."
The province is currently facing several unfinished projects that continue to affect service delivery and community development. Among these is the incomplete G Hostel in Welkom, which was meant to provide much-needed accommodation and improve living conditions for residents. Work at Charles Mopeli Stadium also remains unresolved, leaving a key sporting and community facility unable to fully serve its purpose.
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Democratic Alliance leader Roy Jankielsohn said those projects were already budgeted for.
He added that allocating additional funds without clearly explaining failures in planning, project management, and consequence management raises serious concerns about waste and accountability.
"Road infrastructure is vital to our province. The economy runs on roads. Deteriorating provincial and municipal roads are a key reason why the province continues to struggle to attract investors. Without reliable transport infrastructure, economic growth remains constrained, logistics costs rise, and job opportunities are lost."
Roy added that there were no genuinely new initiatives to turn around failing local government, and the crisis on the ground continues.
"Masilonyana Municipality residents are forced to drink sewage-contaminated water, while in many other towns, they still have no access to clean, reliable water. These are not abstract policy problems. They are the lived experiences of Free State residents," he said.
In response to these concerns, the Premier stated that her administration will prioritise strengthening local government in the 2026/2027 financial year.
She emphasised a focus on stabilising municipalities, improving governance and financial management, and ensuring that municipalities fulfil their core mandate of delivering reliable basic services to residents.
According to the Premier, fixing local government is central to restoring public confidence and accelerating the completion of stalled infrastructure projects across the province.
