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The Free State Premier, Mr Mxolisi Dukwana, in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) mentioned the usual issues affecting the people of the Free State which the Democratic Alliance (DA) is well aware of. It is what he failed to mention that the residents of the province must be concerned about.

Unlike the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, Dukwana, failed to mention what steps, if any, his provincial government will take to mitigate the impact of loadshedding on the people of the Free State, our local economies, and service delivery.

Another crisis facing residents of the Free State which did not receive attention is the fact that many of our people in the province do not have access to reliable clean water in their taps.

The Premier elaborated on state capture and corruption in the Free State, but what he did not mention was that the most important reason for state capture and corruption is the implementation of the ANC’s cadre policy, which is supported by his partner in government, President Cyril Ramaphosa. Cadre deployment has allowed ANC factions in the Free State to entrench their vested interests in municipalities and provincial government and plunder our people's resources. His greatest opposition to implementing his proposals will be from within his own deeply divided and factionalised party in the Free State.

The DA will continue to hold the Premier and his Executive Committee accountable for the promises they make to the Free State and offer a viable alternative in the 2024 election. While we have a new face, it is the same party in government in the province that is also responsible for the decay. If people want real change they need to register and vote for it.

Issued by Dr Roy Jankielsohn - DA Leader of the Official Opposition in the Free State Legislature