Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae visited the Matjhabeng municipality for a strategic engagement with Harmony Mining.
The meeting that was held on Friday, 8 November, was aimed at strengthening the partnership between the provincial government and Harmony Mining.
During her State of the Province Address, Letsoha-Mathae emphasized the crucial role of collaborative efforts in addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the province. Reflecting this commitment, the premier sought to join hands with Harmony to improve living conditions in Matjhabeng, particularly in Nyakallong, Voëlpan, which has long been impacted by persistent flooding and other service delivery challenges.
During the engagement, Harmony reported that it had invested over R9.4 billion in Matjhabeng during the 2023/24 financial year, a reflection of the company’s commitment to supporting government initiatives and building communities. This significant investment was directed toward community development, learnerships, training, skills development, bursaries, and employment opportunities.
The premier emphasized the urgency of addressing the housing challenges in Matjhabeng, particularly in Voëlpan, which has suffered repeated flooding over the years.
In light of these circumstances, she highlighted the need for immediate action to improve the community’s living conditions.
“Our people deserve better living conditions, and a collective effort with private businesses is imperative if we are to realize this goal,” she said.
True to her hands-on approach, Mama Action, as she is known, did not conclude her visit in a boardroom; instead, she insisted that representatives of Harmony Mining and the municipality accompany her to Voëlpan to witness first-hand the conditions under which people are living.
During her visit, intervention measures were agreed upon, and technical task teams were established to address both human settlement and broader socio-economic issues in the area.
She also visited the home of an elderly woman affected by flooding and supported the local economy by purchasing vegetables from a local garden owner.
