Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – Nearly 27 years after the former Premier of Mpumalanga, Ndaweni Mahlangu famously suggested that “it is acceptable for politicians to lie” in defence of government decisions, the Free State Provincial Government appears to have taken a similar route.
Premier Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae first came under scrutiny during her tenure as MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport when she claimed in the Free State Legislature that it was Sipho Mtakati who hired Monnapule Ntamo in the first major controversy linked to her leadership. That was not true and she knew.
Critics argued that the statement exposed a failure to conduct proper due diligence, with allegations that the Legislature itself was misled.
Questions are now mounting over a series of claims made during the 2025 State of the Province Address (SOPA).
Among them were assurances regarding progress at Vaal Rock Hospital, the long-delayed G-Hostel project in Welkom, and the Extension 1 housing development in Allanridge.
Residents in affected communities continue to complain about incomplete work, delays and conditions on the ground that appear far removed from the promises made in the SOPA.
While STEPUPSANEWS continues to investigate expenditure linked to the funeral of Terror Lekota, the publication can confirm that the provincial government exceeded its own publicly stated funeral spending cap.
During SOPA, Mathae indicated that the government had resolved to limit funeral costs to R650 000.
WATCH
However, barely two months later, the province allegedly spent R750 000 on the funeral of William Kotsoane.
In defence of the appointment of a Zongezile Adam Zumane, convicted fraudster as CEO of Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital, Mathae said JJ who is a municipal manager in Free State also has a criminal record but what became apparent is Mathae does not know the difference between conviction and aqquital. JJ was arrested but was acquitted. Huge difference.
Motho o leshano enoa!
We will continue to monitor every promise Mathae made and hold her accountable including appointments under her administration.
According to FSPG Mathae matriculated from Mariasdal Secondary School in Tweespruit.
In another controversial development, Dr Moeketsi Mosola, recently appointed CEO of Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone, has now also been appointed acting CEO of the Free State Development Corporation. This you can’t make up.
The position was never publicly advertised before the appointment was made, meaning that he was handpicked.
Mosola the municipal manager when both Auditor General and Corruption Watch fingered the municipality in the Glad Africa scandal.
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