Makume, Mbalula Take Budget to the People in Qwaqwa

The Free State government is set to bring its budgeting process directly to residents of Qwaqwa as Finance MEC Ketso Makume and Community Safety, Roads and Transport MEC Jabu Mbalula table their departmental budget votes on Tuesday.

The session, to be held at the BluegumBosch Multipurpose Hall in Phuthaditjhaba, forms part of the provincial legislature’s efforts to deepen public participation in the 2026/27 budget process.

Makume is expected to outline plans aimed at stabilising municipal finances, unlocking economic growth and supporting small businesses across the province. With persistent challenges in local government, his address will likely focus on restoring financial discipline while driving job creation.

Mbalula, meanwhile, will turn attention to road infrastructure, transport systems and community safety. His department faces mounting pressure to improve road conditions and reduce accidents, while also strengthening initiatives to combat crime in both urban and rural communities.

Hosting the budget votes in Qwaqwa places a spotlight on the struggles of the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, an area long plagued by service delivery failures, unemployment and deteriorating infrastructure. Bringing the legislature to the region signals an attempt to reconnect provincial leadership with communities often left on the margins.

Residents, business owners and civil society organisations are expected to attend the sitting, which begins at 10:00, to raise concerns and engage directly with decision-makers.

The departmental votes follow the tabling of the broader provincial budget and are a critical step in detailing how funds will be allocated. As scrutiny intensifies ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, the Qwaqwa engagement could prove a key test of government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and tangible delivery.

This article was originally posted by IOL