Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae has called on officials in the department of human settlements to prioritise local businesses, women and young people when awarding contracts, warning that decisions which sideline Free State residents will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking during a meeting with departmental officials on Tuesday (14/7) alongside MEC for human settlements Saki Mokoena, the premier expressed frustration over the continued awarding of major contracts to companies from outside the province despite repeated calls to empower local contractors.
“Government finds itself in a serious mess because of some of the decisions taken previously and some of the people who contributed to the challenges we are facing are still in the system,” she said.
She emphasised that local communities have the right to express their frustration when they are sidelined as much as it is the responsibility of those in power to follow procedure.
“If we do not deliver on those promises, our people will understandably be unhappy. That is why we will hold people accountable for decisions that are contrary to what we have promised our people. We can’t say the same thing to our people without any change.”
Mokoena echoed the Premier’s concerns, saying the department continues to grapple with deep-rooted challenges and resistance to change.
“We inherited a mess and are currently sitting with a serious problem. We are facing resistance from beneficiaries of the rot that we find in the department, but we are going to deal with the situation decisively,” he said.
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
