PREMIER MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to addressing housing challenges, promising security, dignity and improved living conditions for Free State residents.
Speaking during her State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Bloemfontein on Friday, she outlined an ambitious plan to upgrade hostels, service informal settlements, complete unfinished housing projects and rectify title deed misallocations.
“We commit that there shall be housing, security and comfort for all,” Letsoha-Mathae declared, emphasising the provincial government’s drive towards spatial integration to bring people closer to economic opportunities.
Among the key housing projects announced, the premier highlighted the planned completion of the G-Hostel upgrade in Welkom and the Dark and Silver City Development in Bloemfontein by the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.
The government aims to convert hostels into family units, a move she described as a demonstration that “our people deserve better”.
In a bid to improve living conditions for thousands, the province has committed to upgrading 34 informal settlements by the end of the current financial cycle, ensuring access to essential services and improved security.
Additionally, the province had initially set a target to service 3 652 sites in informal settlements and greenfields but has exceeded expectations by servicing 6 878 sites.
Letsoha-Mathae also announced plans to address the backlog of incomplete housing projects.
“We will this year invite contractors through a competitive bidding process to complete historically incomplete houses throughout the province,” she stated.
Rural communities in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district and Mangaung Metro will see an eradication of mud houses, which will be replaced with proper housing structures.
Furthermore, the province is committed to delivering government-subsidised housing to cater to the diverse needs of Free State residents.
Recognising the importance of homeownership, the premier underscored the province’s dedication to ensuring rightful ownership through the issuance of title deeds.
“A house is about investment, raising families and human dignity. This is our human settlement approach. And even today, it is our undertaking to hand over title deeds to the rightful beneficiaries,” she said.
Addressing past misallocations, Letsoha-Mathae issued an apology to affected residents, particularly in Thaba Nchu.
“Let me take this opportunity to apologise to the people of Thaba Nchu and all our people in the province for the misallocation of title deeds,” she said.
“The title deeds that we will hand over to the people of Thaba Nchu before the end of this year is our way of saying that we know you deserve better. We dare not fail you.”
In a final push for equitable housing allocation, the premier revealed that the Department of Human Settlements has been tasked with verifying and allocating unoccupied houses to qualifying beneficiaries from the existing list by the end of April 2025.
The housing plan outlined in the SOPA signals a comprehensive approach to improving housing conditions in the Free State, ensuring that residents have access to secure, dignified and well-located homes. – Staff Reporter