Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Werner Pretorius MPL and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached pictures here, here, here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the commitment made by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) MEC, Dibelo Mance, that budgetary provisions will be made over the next few years for critical maintenance to the House of the Free State Legislature, the historic 4th Raadsaal.
During a sitting on the 3rd of December 2025, the MEC confirmed that the 4th Raadsaal had been temporarily closed due to health and safety concerns while maintenance is scheduled. As one of the most iconic buildings of the Free State Province, the 4th Raadsaal’s maintenance is vital to a strong democratic dispensation and pride of the province.
The MEC indicated that R42 million will be allocated for repairs to the 4th Raadsaal over the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years. The DA submitted written questions to the MEC in 2024 regarding the dilapidated condition of the building and again raised an alarm regarding the state of the historic building during Heritage Month.
The DA once again advocated for provincial Departments to take a proactive stance to conduct preventative maintenance on all provincial buildings. Much of the damage caused to provincial buildings and facilities across the province can be mitigated by regular maintenance, with simple efforts such as the regular clearing and maintenance of gutters and the maintenance of roofs.
The DA further raised concerns regarding other iconic Free State landmarks, such as the Free State House, the official residence of the Premier of the Province, that burnt down in March 2023, as well as the continued underutilisation of the revolving restaurant located on the 26th floor of the Provincial Government Building, the tallest building in Bloemfontein. Renovations to the Revolving Restaurant were completed in 2014 at a cost of R4.6 Million, and multiple tenders were advertised for the lease of the restaurant to potential service providers in the subsequent years that followed; however, the restaurant still remains unoccupied to date.
These iconic and historic assets, together with all other state-owned properties across the Free State, should be utilised to the benefit of the people of the province. The DA will continue to closely monitor the expenditure on restoration and maintenance projects, as well as the effective and sustainable utilisation of these provincial assets.