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ActionSA welcomes the resignation of Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela. Ntombela has done the honourable thing by falling on her sword as Premier as she has done nothing to improve the lives of the people of that province.

On the 6th of February we as ActionSA called for her resignation when it became glaringly obvious that the people of Free State people had lost confidence in her ability to run the province and to give them opportunities to progress, develop or break the endless cycle of poverty.

Ntombela inherited the province in the worst condition, but she did nothing to reverse the damage and improve people’s lives but instead continued in Ace Magashule’s footsteps. Under her leadership, Free State has become the face of corruption, with numerous incomplete projects that were only created to enrich the ANC cabal.

To date nothing has been done with the asbestos houses that are detrimental to people’s health, this project has cost the state R255 million and there is nothing to show for it. It was also the subject of the State Capture report. Currently Silver and Dark City Housing projects remain incomplete, and this has cost the state almost R260 million.

At present the Fish Processing Plant in Bethulie, Kopanong stands idle, R6,5 million was spent on the construction and equipment for this processing plant. Eight years later the plant is rotting with the building deteriorating and equipment getting vandalised.

Kopanong, Matjhabeng, Maluti a Phofung, Mafube Municipalities are a tale of a failed government, People are without water and sanitation and employees are not paid their salaries. This has been brought to Ntombela’s attention on numerous occasions using different platforms to date she has remained deaf to people’s cries.

Ntombela rebranded the Vrede Dairy Farm which exploited so many hardworking people and installed new management but to date, some have been fired, with some being demoted. That was a dismal failure.

The biggest Police Station in the Free State, Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein remains incomplete after R41 million has been spent for upgrades; this is the fourth year now with three contractors hired. Police Stations are under-resourced and ill-prepared to effectively handle rising crime levels in the province.

Inadequate security at schools poses a great threat to the proper functioning of education. Learners and teachers are not safe.

The Free State Department of Health is failing dismally to address surgery backlogs; there is a huge shortage of skills, trained staff, medical practitioners, and essential medical resources.

Free State roads are in a dilapidated state with sinkholes, a great cause of unnecessary accidents and there doesn’t seem to be a plan to fix our roads.

Survivors of Jagersfontein Dam tragedy are still without homes, they are still staying with friends and relatives, and not a single promise made by Ntombela has been fulfilled.

It is in her tenure that the province has experienced more violent community protests which resulted in further infrastructure damages.

Ntombela’s term in office has not yielded anything positive for the people of Free State and it would have been remiss of her to stand before the people at the State of the Province Address and claim empty victories when she failed dismally as a premier, and her legacy is of unfulfilled promises.

We are fully aware that the resignation of Premier Ntombela will not fix the province’s problems, but we are confident that this is a step in the right direction.

ActionSA stands ready to fix this province, 2024 will give Free State people an opportunity to elect a government that will serve them and fix the mess caused by the ANC.

Issued by ActionSA Free State Provincial Chairperson Patricia Kopane