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Crisis Management to Address Water and Sanitation Issues in Free State Towns

Location: News

While the Free State Premier has identified nine municipalities as water and sanitation hotspots, it is clear that local government is busy with crisis management. In response to a question from the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Free State Legislature, the Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, indicated that the Local Municipalities of Maluti-a-Phofung (Harrismith and […]

The post Crisis management to address water and sanitation issues in Free State towns appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.

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NPA welcomes Magudumana deportation appeal dismissal

Location: News

NPA welcomes Magudumana deportation appeal dismissal

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal to dismiss the deportation appeal of controversial doctor Nandipha Magudumana.

She was arrested in 2023 in Tanzania, together with serial rapist and murderer Thabo Bester – an arrest she had contended was illegal.

“In June 2023, Judge Loubser dismissed Dr Magudumana’s application for her arrest and deportation from Tanzania in April 2023 to be declared unlawful and set aside. The NPA’s prosecution team will now focus on ensuring that the trial set down for 21 July to 19 September 2025, before the Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein, proceeds without any unreasonable delay. 

“Dr Magudumana and her co-accused are facing a total of 38 counts ranging from fraud, corruption, money laundering, assisting an inmate to escape, violation of the body, arson, and defeating the ends of justice. The NPA is committed to ensuring that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done because of the alleged crimes’ impact on the rule of law and the victims,” the NPA said in a statement on Friday. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Fri, 05/16/2025 - 14:05

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Toxic Stakeholder Relations at CUT Collapses Higher Education Oversight

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has suspended planned discussions with the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein due to a breakdown in trust among senior management, unions, the Institutional Forum (IF) and the Student Representative Council (SRC). The decision follows an oversight visit that exposed severe governance failures, administrative disfunction and a campus environment that is not conducive to teaching and learning

CUT stakeholders unanimously decried the state of the institution during the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education's oversight visit. The IF, organised labour and the SRC said the CUT has serious administrative and governance issues, which is affecting staff morale and creating an environment that is not conducive to teaching and learning. University stakeholders also told the committee that the CUT registration process left much to be desired – many students could have been admitted but lost the opportunity due to the failure of IT systems.

Some of the allegations levelled against university leaders was that that the university has a serious shortage of academic staff members and the academic programmes is being run by part-time lecturers. In one faculty, for example, there are more part-time lecturers than full-time academic staff. The committee further said it is discouraging to note that CUT does not have an officially recognised SRC despite the fact that elections were held in August last year.

The committee Chairperson, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said that although the committee has postponed immediate engagement with CUT, it plans to revisit the university's challenges in the committee's programme next term. “We will schedule a dedicated hearing to dissect the root causes of this distrust. CUT's leadership must account for why stakeholder relations have deteriorated to this extent and how they intend to rebuild academic and operational stability,” added Mr Letsie.

Members of the committee were deeply concerned that the CUT did not have a recognised SRC. The committee cautioned against a growing practice in the sector where senior management in post-school education used the institution's resources to go after workers and students in the courts.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Raises Concerns about UFS’s Employment Equity and Student Welfare

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has expressed concern about the University of the Free State's (UFS) employment of 141 foreign academics as well as 26 foreign support staff. The committee is currently conducting a week-long oversight visit to post-school education and training institutions in the Free State to assess academic readiness and infrastructure.

During engagements with UFS senior management, labour unions, student representatives and other stakeholders, the committee acknowledged the cordial relations between university leadership and its stakeholders. However, it urged UFS to prioritise the development and hiring of local talent where possible, cautioning against over-reliance on the “scarce skills” argument to justify overlooking qualified South African candidates.

The committee also raised concerns about the underrepresentation of African, Coloured, and Indian staff in professorships and associate professorships, highlighting ongoing transformation challenges at UFS. University management acknowledged that there is a need to address employment equity, agreeing on the need for greater diversity in leadership to better reflect to the Free State's demographics.

On language policy, the committee supported student preferences for English as the medium of instruction and noted concerns that there are lecturers who insist on only using Afrikaans to teach students. Additionally, while the student representative council advocated for better support for pregnant students, the committee reminded them that this responsibility cannot fall on the university.

Regarding the Qwaqwa campus, the committee emphasised the need for accredited student accommodation, noting that academic success rates are higher among students residing in university housing compared to those staying at home. The committee Chairperson, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said, “Pouring billions into student housing without accountability means students may end up in substandard conditions.”

Today the committee will conduct an oversight visit to Motheo TVET Colleges National Artisan Development Academy and Central University of Technology main campus in Bloemfontein.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Premier to mitigate impact of aid withdrawal on jobs

Location: News

Premier to mitigate impact of aid withdrawal on jobs

Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae has assured that her government, in collaboration with the national Department of Health, will explore innovative solutions to prevent job losses in the province’s health sector. 

This follows the withdrawal of a United States (US) foreign aid grant to South Africa which has supported critical health programs. 

Delivering her State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday, Letsoha-Mathae emphasised that efforts are underway to mitigate the impact and ensure continued healthcare service delivery despite the funding shortfall.

“Many of our strategic partners have indicated that funding from USAID [United States Agency for International Development] has been stopped. This poses an immediate threat of job losses to about 725 healthcare workers, social workers, data capturers, cleaners and many others. 

“We will find innovative ways working with national Department of Health to mitigate the impact of this decision,” she said.

The Premier emphasised that no inclusive growth would be realised without quality healthcare and her administration was doing its best to improve healthcare quality in government facilities. 

She added that less professionals mean less provision of services of which the province cannot afford.

“That is the reason why, last year, we employed 1 232 healthcare professionals that include doctors and nurses. More will be employed in the next financial year. 

“The 1 112 contract workers employed to ease the COVID-19 health pressures, whose contracts expired in October 2024, were re-employed in January this year. Their return is a crucial step in increasing the provision of health services,” she said.

The Premier highlighted that the province had procured more Renal Dialysis Machines and installed Renal Water Purification Systems in some of its hospitals. 

At the Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in Qwaqwa, six dialysis machines were commissioned in this financial year. A Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit was delivered and will be installed and commissioned upon the completion of construction and prefiltration.

“At Boitumelo Regional Hospital, ten dialysis machines, two mobile Reverse Osmosis, and a Reverse Osmosis Plant are in clinical use. Importantly, availability of medicines in our health facilities is above 90%,” she said. 

Due to increasing population, urbanisation and changing lifestyles, the Premier noted that the health burden is increasing, putting pressure on the available facilities. 

She announced that healthcare facilities that are under construction will be completed in the 2025/26 financial year. These include the Thandanani Clinic in Welkom, Rheederpark Clinic in Welkom, Borwa Clinic in Tweespruit, Clocolan Clinic in Clocolan, Dinaane Clinic in Thaba-Nchu, and Valrok Clinic in Brandfort. 

“We are also upgrading hospitals, laboratories, neonatal facilities, renal units, maternity wards, pharmacies, mortuaries, theatres and heli-stops. We have taken note of particular challenges at the Bloemfontein Government Mortuary and plans are afoot to remedy the situation,” she said.

The Premier further announced that the following health facilities now render a 24-hour service: MUCPP in Mangaung (Maternity and Emergency Services); Heidedal Clinic in Mangaung (Emergency Services); PAX Clinic in Viljoenskroon (Emergency Services); Bolata Clinic in Qwaqwa (Maternity Services) and the Lesedi Clinic in Kroonstad will be operational from April 2025 (Maternity and Emergency Services). - SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Tue, 02/25/2025 - 14:29
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Plans underway to ensure service delivery in the Free State 

Location: News

Plans underway to ensure service delivery in the Free State 

Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae says plans are underway to ensure that municipalities in the province can deliver basic services such as water, electricity, and refuse collection to the people. 

Delivering the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday, Letsoha-Mathae said that work to improve the state of the province’s municipalities is continuing. 

“We are deeply concerned about the state of some of our municipalities. Their failure to provide services such as water, electricity and refuse removal is worrying. Water treatment plants are not maintained. Electricity infrastructure is collapsing. Taps are dry. Streets are littered with garbage. 

“Work to improve the state of our municipalities is continuing. We want to get the basics right and improve service delivery to our people,” she said.

She added that the professionalisation of local government was ongoing and that the seventh administration continues to assist municipalities with the implementation of the Municipal Staff Regulations meant to create a development-oriented local government. 

“We are also supporting municipalities with the development of municipal staff establishments that are fit for purpose, review of competency assessments, and remuneration framework for senior managers.

“Section 56 Managers are now permanently appointed in compliance with the Municipal Systems Amendment Act of 2022. Deployment of competent managers and technical officials to municipalities to enhance service delivery is also continuing.”

Letsoha-Mathae said the provincial authorities and municipal officials met with the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa last week to ensure that all municipalities can meet their financial obligations to Eskom.

“Ten municipalities in our province are participating in the Eskom Debt Relief Programme meant to help them settle their current accounts. We continue to provide support to these municipalities to ensure compliance and financial discipline in their engagements with Eskom. 

“We commit to meet our electricity, water, services and property rates obligations to municipalities to lessen their dire financial state. Payment plans will be developed and adhered to. We will lead by example,” she explained.

The province has also been battling water challenges, however, the Premier announced that the Department of Water and Sanitation has committed to giving the provincial government R1.4 billion to deal with water and sanitation issues.

This amount is meant to improve water supply and quality and upgrade water and wastewater treatment works throughout the province.

Housing 

Meanwhile, the Premier committed that there shall be housing, security and comfort for all as the provincial government drives integration to bring people closer to areas of opportunities. 

“We will complete the upgrade of G-Hostel in Welkom, and Dark and Silver City Development in Bloemfontein in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. Conversion and development of hostels into family units is our way of saying our people deserve better. 

“We will also upgrade 34 informal settlements by the end of cycle to ensure access to basic services and security for thousands of residents,” she said. 

This financial year, the province had planned to service 3 652 sites in informal settlements and greenfields. She announced that this target has been surpassed with 6 878 sites having been serviced. 

She added that this year, contractors will be invited through a competitive bidding process to complete historically incomplete houses throughout the province.

“In improving the living conditions of our people in rural areas, we will eradicate mud houses and replace them with proper housing structures in [the]Thabo Mofutsanyana District and Mangaung Metro. We also commit to delivering government-subsidised housing across various types to meet the diverse needs of our communities,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Tue, 02/25/2025 - 14:31
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Read morePlans underway to ensure service delivery in the Free State