Ben Malakoane
The Free State department of health has been faced with a host of challenges over the years, with patients often complaining about shortages of staff, medicines and medical consumables as well as non-functional equipment including lifts at major hospitals. Despite a dire need for more nurses at health facilities, the department cannot employ more because it does not have the money to do so. The Weekly’s Martin Makoni this week sat down with Health MEC Benny Malakoane to get a clearer understanding of the situation in the department. Makoni asked Malakoane why the department would invest in nurse training but…
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Butana Komphela
Following a trip to Robben Island organised by the Free State government for 120 ex-convicts that was criticised by some members of the public – who doubted its usefulness – The Weekly’s Thapelo Molebatsi, in this wide-ranging interview, asked police, roads and transport MEC Butana Komphela to explain the rationale behind the trip and how it will help the transformation of the former criminals into law abiding citizens. Molebatsi also asked Komphela about the spate of public violent protests witnessed in parts of Mangaung Metro in recent days, as well as his department and the police’s strategy to fight crime…
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Olly Mlamleli
Mayors and senior executives from Free State municipalities converged in Bloemfontein over the past weekend to discuss their proposed budgets with the departments of treasury and of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA). Each municipality was asked to present its draft budget and to explain how much they had involved residents in drawing up their spending plans. The Weekly’s Martin Makoni spoke to COGTA MEC Olly Mlamleli about the meeting to get a clearer understanding of what it was intended to achieve. Makoni also asked Mlamleli how the ideas exchange between the departments and the municipalities will help the local…
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