PREMIER MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae has lauded the Free State’s growing investment portfolio, highlighting significant strides in manufacturing, mining, and economic development during her State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday.
Her address emphasised that the province’s commitment to investment attraction is bearing fruit.
“We want investors to invest in the future. The future is in the Free State,” she stated.
At the heart of the province’s investment drive, according to the premier, is the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which has secured major investments for the 2024/25 financial year.
Letsoha-Mathae underscored the importance of these projects in boosting economic growth and job creation.
“These include the Walk of Life fruit processing business, with an investment value of R330 million, creating 173 jobs,” she said.
“Another similar company, Clan Leslie Estates, has invested R21 million and created 160 jobs.”
Additionally, the Maluti-a-Phofung SEZ welcomed the NTTA Investments rabbit abattoir, a R37 million project that employs 66 people.
Rovno Foods, specialising in packaging and labelling sauces, has invested R400 000, creating eight jobs.
With 16 investors in the pipeline, the Maluti-a-Phofung SEZ expects an investment influx of R3.26 billion, anticipated to generate 1 243 jobs in the 2025/26 period.
To further enhance its attractiveness to investors, the province is undertaking key infrastructure upgrades.
“To attract more investment, we are working night and day to upgrade the Maluti-a-Phofung SEZ,” the premier said.
“Improvements include increased power supply, enhanced security, refurbishments of factories and road maintenance.”
Letsoha-Mathae also outlined efforts to revitalise the Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park, which will benefit 30 clothing and textile operators, including four community cooperatives.
On the governance front, the premier revealed that proposals have been made to reposition public entities to strengthen investment attraction and corporate governance.
“We will soon appoint a new board of the Free State Development Corporation to drive investment attraction, enhance corporate governance and improve operations,” she said.
Mining also remains a key sector in the province’s economic blueprint.
Letsoha-Mathae noted that the provincial government, in collaboration with the Council of Geosciences, has mapped minerals and gas occurrences, opening opportunities for the sector’s expansion.
“Prospects of mining surface gold for the next decade are equally pleasing,” she said.
“Working with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, we will remove barriers to entry and support small-scale miners in mining commodities such as sandstone, clay, salt, diamonds and many others.”
As the province embarks on this ambitious investment trajectory, all eyes will be on the implementation of these commitments to ensure tangible benefits for the people of the Free State. – Staff Reporter