{"id":301700,"date":"2023-02-28T15:04:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T13:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/new-premier-at-the-helm-20230228\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:01:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:01:47","slug":"new-premier-at-the-helm-20230228","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/new-premier-at-the-helm-20230228\/","title":{"rendered":"New premier at the helm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"middle\" id=\"embed_6b217842\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/8432\/9c2f0e14cccf4d2e937f4bfca31a6b13.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/8432\/96e32903c96e4509a6569cdea9bfa651.jpg\" title=\"Members of the police parade during the State of the Province Adress. Photos: Teboho Setena\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Members of the police parade during the State of the Province Adress. Photos: Teboho Setena<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"Middle\" id=\"embed_1f98e8ca\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/8434\/d66ccb52d4604aaf9d18a7fdc1192157.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/8434\/f280b4ffa1854f0384fbe7dc772f85ea.jpg\" title=\"New Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, flanked by Speaker of the Free State Legislature Zanele Sifuba and Provincial Police commissioner Baile Motswenyane at the Free State\u2019s state of the province address\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">New Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, flanked by Speaker of the Free State Legislature Zanele Sifuba and Provincial Police commissioner Baile Motswenyane at the Free State\u2019s state of the province address<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Remaining true to decision-making and decisive action towards building a prosperous Free State will be key, the newly elected Free State premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, stressed during the delivery of his maiden State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Tuesday (28\/02). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He conceded the ailing province\u2019s socio-economic state was due to complex challenges, among them being political will and the inability to implement programmes meant to improve the lives of the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBuilding a Free State of choice, will involve a focus recruitment of capable public servants, to transform our ideals into pragmatic actions. Over the next 14 months we shall take decisive action to make the Free State a province of choice. We will leverage on our location as the heart of South Africa, a reality upon which our development must be based,\u201d said Dukwana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He has likened the ailing Free State\u2019s socio-economy to a chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe all know the functions of a kidney. If the kidney is not functioning well, it results in the body becoming weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is the case with the Free State province, because our economy is not functioning well and thus South Africa as a whole suffers,\u201d said Dukwana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A former teacher and the first MEC for Education in the province, Dukwana brings with him vast experience, having served in different portfolios in the provincial government. He thanked his predecessor, Sisi Ntombela, for steering the ship during trying times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dukwana, who was elected as premier on Friday (24\/02), emerged victorious after a fierce battle for the position of provincial ANC-chairperson. He was elected together with four other candidates in the top party positions on 22 January at the ninth provincial conference held in Bloemfontein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dukwana becomes the second premier to serve as chairperson of the ruling party after Ace Magashule\u2019s two terms as premier, before being elected as the ANC secretary general in 2018. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Remaining true to decision-making and decisive action towards building a prosperous Free State will be key, the newly elected Free State premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, stressed during the delivery of his maiden State of the Province Address (Sopa) on 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