Mayor of Tswelopele Local Municipality, Cllr. Kenalemang Phukuntsi at Matjhabeng
Local Municipality Investment Summit
2025.
The Matjhabeng Local Municipality has unveiled ten new traffic patrol vehicles and two cherry pickers for the
Electricity Department....
These additions will strengthen traffic law enforcement, improve road safety, and enhance the municipality’s capacity to
respond swiftly to service delivery needs.
#BuildingTheMatjhabengWeWant
#MatjhabengInvestmentSummit
#ServiceDeliveryToThePeople
#Investment
The Honourable Premier of the Free State, Madam MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, together
with the Mayor of Tswelopele Local
Municipality, Cllr. Kenalemang Phukuntsi, joined the Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng
Local Municipality, Cllr. Thanduxolo
Khalipha, for the official unveiling of ten newly purchased traffic patrol vehicles
and two cherry pickers for the
Electricity Department....
The unveiling marks another significant milestone in Matjhabeng’s ongoing efforts to strengthen service delivery and
improve the quality of life for its residents.
The ten new traffic patrol vehicles will empower the municipality’s Traffic Department to respond swiftly to road
incidents, enforce compliance with traffic laws, and enhance visible policing across all major routes and communities.
This investment reinforces Matjhabeng’s commitment to promoting discipline, accountability, and safer driving behaviour
among motorists.
In addition, the two newly acquired cherry pickers will greatly improve the operational efficiency of the Electricity
Department. These vehicles will enable technicians to attend to electrical faults, streetlight maintenance, and overhead
infrastructure repairs more safely and effectively, ensuring faster response times and improved service reliability for
residents.
Both investments form part of the municipality’s broader strategy to strengthen institutional capacity, support
frontline workers with the right tools, and advance service delivery through practical, sustainable interventions.
#BuildingTheMatjhabengWeWant
#MatjhabengInvestmentSummit
#Investment
#ServiceDeliveryToThePeople
The Matjhabeng Investment Summit officially opened today, marking a significant
milestone in the municipality’s drive to
rebuild and reposition itself as a key investment destination in the Free State.
Executive Mayor Cllr. Thanduxolo Khalipha set the tone for the two-day summit, emphasizing Matjhabeng’s renewed
commitment to economic growth, job creation, and ethical governance.
...
The event, held in Welkom, brings together government representatives, business leaders, investors, and development
partners to explore practical pathways for sustainable investment.
In his opening address, Mayor Khalipha highlighted the historical challenges that have faced the municipality ,
including mine closures, job losses, and declining infrastructure but reaffirmed that Matjhabeng is now entering a new
era of renewal and opportunity.
“Our target for this summit is to secure R100 billion in investment commitments, building on the R55 billion pledged at
our previous summit. Pledges alone are not enough; we want action that delivers jobs and opportunities for our people,”
said the Mayor.
The Mayor outlined Matjhabeng’s strategic plan to diversify its economy beyond mining, focusing on clean energy,
agro-industrial development, manufacturing, and logistics. Central to this vision is the Matjhabeng Special Economic
Zone (SEZ) a ring-fenced industrial platform designed to attract investment and drive regional industrialisation.
A key highlight of the proceedings was Matjhabeng’s commitment to energy transformation. The Mayor noted that the
municipality recently hosted the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, whose visit signaled
national confidence in Matjhabeng’s efforts to achieve energy stability and sustainability.
Discussions with the Minister focused on strengthening electricity supply, revenue collection, infrastructure upgrades,
and addressing historical debt owed to Eskom reflecting Matjhabeng’s seriousness about becoming the energy hub of the
Free State.
Further demonstrating intergovernmental collaboration, the Department of Water and Sanitation is investing over R3
billion in projects to refurbish wastewater treatment plants, upgrade sewer infrastructure, and eliminate sewer
spillages, a clear sign of progress toward a cleaner, investment-ready city.
The summit has drawn wide participation from across the public and private sectors, including mining houses,
agricultural firms, infrastructure investors, and development agencies.
Free State Premier MaQueen Letshoha-Mathae also attended the event, pledging the provincial government’s full support
for Matjhabeng’s economic transformation agenda. The Mayor of Tswelopele Local Municipality, Cllr. Kenalemang Phukuntsi
is also in attendance , and MMC Baleni who represented Executive Mayor of Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
The Matjhabeng Investment Summit continues tomorrow, focusing on actionable investment projects, intergovernmental
collaboration, and the fast-tracking of SEZ readiness to position Matjhabeng as a regional hub for growth, innovation,
and opportunity.
#buildingthematjhabengwewant
#investment
#InvestInMatjhabeng
DEPUTY MINISTER SEISO MOHAI TO LEAD DDM REVIEW AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MATJHABENG
INVESTMENT SUMMIT IN THE FREE STATE
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Hon. Seiso Mohai, will undertake two key
engagements in the Free State Province from 16–17 October 2025, focusing on strengthening coordinated service delivery
through the District Development Model (DDM) and advancing regional economic growth through strategic investment.
...
DDM ONE PLAN REVIEW ENGAGEMENT
16 October 2025
Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality
MATJHABENG INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2025
17 October 2025
Welkom, Feder Meyer Hall
#DpmeAtWork
#DDM
Seiso Mohai
MATJHABENG INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2025.
Matjhabeng is rising again , a city built on history, powered by innovation, and ready to welcome the next generation of
investors.
From the success of the 2023 Investment Summit to the remarkable progress in developing the Welkom Airport and the
Matjhabeng Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the journey of renewal continues.
...
The SEZ is poised to anchor regional growth by unlocking industrial, energy, and logistics opportunities that will
redefine the economic landscape of the Free State and beyond.
Matjhabeng is not merely inviting investment, it is creating a business-friendly environment underpinned by
infrastructure renewal, strategic public–private collaboration, and a shared vision for sustainable economic
transformation.
Join us as we build a city where investment meets opportunity and growth begins again.
Date: 16–17 October 2025
Venue: Welkom, Free State
#MatjhabengInvestmentSummit2025 #InvestInMatjhabeng
#SEZOpportunity
GOVERNMENT TO BLACKLIST NON-PERFORMING COMPANIES
The Free State Provincial Government will blacklist companies who abandon projects without completing them.
A meeting was convened between Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, MEC for COGTA and Human Settlements Saki Mokoena,
Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng local municipality Thanduxolo Khalipha and Vaal Central.
The purpose of the meeting was for the stakeholders to find a lasting solution to attend to challenges of water and
sanitation in the Municipality. The Vaal Central Water Board has already appointed several companies to attend to sewer
plants and networks....
At the heart of Premier Letsoha-Mathae’s infuriation was contractors, most of whom are not even from the Free State
province, whose only motivation is money. Another matter that concerned her was that, contractors pocket money, abandon
projects and re-emerge in other areas on other projects. That, said Premier Letsoha-Mathae, is going to end.
“People come to the Free State, use fake addresses and are appointed to handle big contractors. Along the way, they
abandon the projects only to reappear elsewhere. That says to me, there is a collusion between government officials and
these contractors. Ideally, when people fail to complete projects, they really should not be appointed to other
projects,” said Premier Letsoha-Mathae.
While the constitution allows for companies to work anywhere in the country, the Premier spoke out harshly against
contractors from other provinces who are unwilling to contribute to the development of communities.
“The question we must ask ourselves is, what are they ploughing back to our communities? People make a lot of money in
our province and leave us dry, and that cannot be allowed.
Our economy is not going to grow if we continue this way. We are going to insist on 80% of business people being from
the Free State province,” said Premier Letsoha-Mathae.
MEC Mokoena echoed the Premier’s sentiments, saying contractors always paint a picture of perfection, only to fail once
appointed.
“They always say they are competent and professionals, but once they are appointed, they say ‘MEC, you must understand’
when they fail to carry out their duties. It is not going to be allowed,” said MEC Mokoena.
There will be constant meetings to monitor the progress of the projects.
