RESIDENTS of Harrismith in the Free State are distancing themselves from the highly anticipated State of the Province Address (SOPA) to be delivered by Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae on Friday, 20 February.
Residents have set the record straight that their primary demand is to be removed from the collapsed Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality and to establish a new, independent municipality that will serve the community with dignity and accountability.
Community member Phumlani Mbatha argued that years of financial mismanagement, deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable water and electricity supply, and poor governance have left them without basic services.
"We have been loud and clear that we want to be out of the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality and start our own well-organised municipality that is accountable, transparent, and fully committed to serving our residents with dignity and efficiency.
"We have suffered under the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality under the watch of the provincial government. The State of the Province Address is a futile exercise to us. We have been promised things that never materialised. We have endured years of hardship with no proper service delivery," he said.
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Residents said successive premiers in the Free State have failed to fulfil their promises and left communities disillusioned and distrustful of provincial leadership.
They argue that repeated commitments made during previous administrations did not translate into improved service delivery or meaningful development on the ground. As a result, they said they expect nothing different from Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, whom they view as part of a line of leaders who have failed to effectively serve the people and address long-standing challenges facing their communities.
Another community member, who is also a councillor, Richard Khumalo, told Daily Sun that the upcoming State of the Province Address (SOPA) is nothing more than the usual cycle of empty promises that have consistently failed to bring meaningful change to residents.
Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae is expected to table the State of the Province Address (SOPA), where she will outline the provincial government's priorities, plans, and interventions for the year ahead.
The address is anticipated to focus on key issues such as service delivery, economic development, infrastructure improvements, and governance, as residents across the province look to hear how the administration intends to tackle ongoing challenges facing communities.
