By 
The Free State Provincial Government is keeping tabs on its budget planning to ensure that departments keep the province’s strategic priorities in the forthcoming Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
The Provincial government led by the Premier, Ms MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae hosted the second EXCO Planning Budget Lekgotla at Imvelo Lodge in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, as part of its on-going monitoring process ensuring that departments are effective in their budget planning and allocation.
During his address, Mr Ketso Makume, the Free State MEC for Finance said the gathering is a fulfilment of the Premier’s commitment during last year’s Lekgotla to have follow-up Lekgotlas. He said the Honourable Premier, reflected on the departmental presentations and indicated that the province would proceed to convene Provincial Medium-Term Expenditure Committee meetings with all departments and public entities.
“I am pleased to report that these PMTEC engagements were successfully convened with all relevant stakeholders. During these sessions, proposed priorities for implementation in the 2026 MTEF period were thoroughly interrogated, aligned, and refined.
EXCO further resolved that a second EXCO Planning and Budget Lekgotla be convened to focus specifically on these priorities and the corresponding departmental budget allocations. That brings us to today’s engagement,” said MEC Makume.
The MEC explained that the purpose of the Lekgotla is to determine whether the identified priorities and proposed budget allocations of each department and public entity adequately respond to:
Firstly, the 2024–2029 Medium-Term Development Plan; and secondly, the four pillars of the draft Free State Growth and Development Plan.
Makume, who is not oblivious to the financial challenges of the province, said the Lekgotla is not a routine exercise. It is a strategic alignment session. It is about ensuring that policy intent, planning, and budgeting are fully integrated.
“We must remain mindful of the prevailing fiscal constraints. Provincial resources continue to be under significant pressure. The reality before us is that the envelope is limited, while the needs of our people are vast.
This compels us to do more with less. Every rand allocated must yield measurable impact. Every programme must demonstrate value for money. Every intervention must translate into tangible service delivery outcomes for the people of the Free State,” he said.
“Today, the Provincial Treasury will present the preliminary 2026 Medium-Term Fiscal Estimates. These figures remain provisional, pending the final allocation letter from National Treasury. However, we do not anticipate material deviations from the projections that will be presented.
It is therefore critical that departments plan within realistic baselines and avoid over-commitment beyond the fiscal framework. I will request that the implementation of the 2026 MTEF must begin without delay from 1 April 2026. There can be no slow start,” said MEC Ketso Makume.
