By 
Despite being faced with a plethora of economic challenges, including the latest outbreak of Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) adversely affecting the livestock value chain in the province, the Free State Premier presented an optimistic and ambitious vision for the province for the next financial year.
Premier Ms MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae delivered her 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Bloemfontein on Friday, 20 February 2026, where she outlined the ambitions of the provincial government; she said her administration is slowly turning the economic corner by creating opportunities for both residents and the business community and investors alike.
She said inclusive economic growth creates jobs, provides opportunities, reduces poverty, and improves the standard of living. To achieve this, Letsoha-Mathae said there needs to be collaborative efforts and have an aggressive approach in attracting greater investment, raise incomes, improve living standards, create more jobs, reduce poverty and diminish inequality.
The Free State has been over the years plagued by a high rate of unemployment reaching 38.5% in the second quarter of 2025, however, the Premier pointed to the latest stats that show that the Free State is slowing dropping the unemployment rate. She announced that the unemployment rate now sits at 37.2%, down from 38.5%, then to 36.2% in the third quarter of 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the province lost the ground gained by 1% and unemployment rate went up to 37.2%.
The Premier is rather optimistic on the economy of the province and set the target for growth higher than the previous year’s one of 1.6%.
“Driven by a lower inflation rate, we expect an improved provincial economic growth rate of 1.85%.
With a rapidly growing portfolio, the Free State remains the preferred renewable energy investment destination in the county. We are a critical transportation hub connecting main economic centers in the country. We are also a key supplier of water with the biggest dam in the country, the Gariep Dam,” she said.
“Last year, we committed to creating thirty thousand, one hundred and fifteen jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme. Today, I am pleased to announce that we have surpassed this target. Through our collaborative efforts across the three spheres of government, we have created forty-six thousand, one hundred and eighteen Expanded Public Works Programme work opportunities in the province
Of these work opportunities, twenty-two thousand, six hundred ninety-eight were generated by the provincial government and municipalities. This is indicative of the value of our strength. We will continue to align, work together, and build partnerships that work to create jobs.
Our target this year is ambitious. We aim to create thirty-four thousand, four hundred and fourteen work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme.” she continued.
