By Emily Setona
BLOEMFONTEIN – Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae says the province is fast-tracking water, sanitation and municipal infrastructure delivery, citing major spending and project roll-outs over the past year.
Delivering her State of the Province Address in Bloemfontein on 20 February, Letsoha-Mathae said infrastructure investment is beginning to show results.
By the end of June 2025, 93% of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) had been spent.
“Our bold implementation plans to provide water, sanitation, roads, stormwater systems, high-mast lights, waste disposal and pedestrian bridges are beginning to pay off,” she said.
The projects created 2,481 jobs.
For the 2026/27 municipal financial year, the province has been allocated R949,4 million through the MIG to further strengthen infrastructure.National government has also stepped in to tackle wastewater failures in struggling municipalities.
Letsoha-Mathae welcomed a ministerial intervention through Vaal Central to stabilise wastewater treatment plants in Matjhabeng Local Municipality and Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.
The province has further approached the Ministry of Defence to explore infrastructure support for Matjhabeng.
To ease sanitation backlogs, government aims to complete 19,500 serviced sites this year to reduce pressure on wastewater systems.
Progress is also being made in eradicating the bucket system in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Nketoana Local Municipality, Setsoto Local Municipality and Tokologo Local Municipality, with support from the national water department.
Among completed projects are the refurbishment of the Fika Patso Water Treatment Works in Qwaqwa, pipeline repairs in Tlholong Extension 4, Kestell, Phase 1 of the 33,8km Welbedacht Pipeline replacement to boost supply to Mangaung, and the upgrading of the Brandfort Wastewater Treatment Works.
Looking ahead, 51 new water and sanitation infrastructure projects are set to roll out across the province in 2026/27 and beyond.
The Premier said the intensified programme aims to restore confidence in local government, particularly in communities long plagued by water shortages, failing wastewater systems and sanitation backlogs.
