SOPA| Dukwana prioritises economic transformation, jobs and delivery of basic services

PHUTI MOSOMANE

JOB creation, delivery of basic services and economic growth are some of the key priorities for newly elected Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana.

Dukwana, who last week replaced Sisi Ntombela as the new Premier of the Free State, delivered his maiden State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Tuesday in Mangaung.

“To deal with these challenges, we have embarked on a decisive path of recovery. The Free State official unemployment rate declined from 38.1% in the third quarter of 2021 to 33.8% in the third quarter of 2022,” said Dukwana.

He said the mostly rural province of the Free State has just developed 11 Economic Sector Master Plans and was now in the process of reviewing the Free State Growth and Development Strategy.

“This will deepen our initiatives to create an enabling environment for inclusive growth, investment attraction, economic transformation and job creation,” said Dukwana.

He told Members