The Free State province of South Africa is governed in a parliamentary system in which the people elect the Provincial Legislature, and the parliament elects the Premier as head of the executive.
The Premier leads an Executive Council consisting of members who oversee various executive departments.
The provincial government of the Free State is subject to chapter six of the Constitution of South Africa which forms the supreme law of the province.
Legislature
The Free State Provincial Legislature, situated in Bloemfontein, is the legislative branch of the provincial government.
The parliament is made up of 30 members, elected by a system of party-list proportional representation.
An election is held every five years, conventionally at the same time as the election of the National Assembly. The most recent election took place in 2024.
Executive
The Premier of the Free State province is the head of the provincial government, chosen by the members of the provincial legislature from amongst themselves.
The premier appoints not more than 10 Members of the Executive Council (MECs) to oversee the departments of the provincial government.
The current premier is Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae of the African National Congress (ANC).
Provincial Cabinet
| Post | Member |
|---|---|
| Premier of the Free State | Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae |
| MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs | Elizabeth Cornelia Rockman |
| MEC for Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Human Settlements | Teboho Zacharia Mokoena |
| MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport | Jabu Ntsokolo Ishmael Mbalula |
| MEC for Education | Dr Mantlhake Julia Maboya |
| MEC for Finance, Tourism, and Economic Development | Moses Ketso Makume |
| MEC for Health | Monyatso Viceroy Mahlatsi |
| MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure | Dibolelo Kathleen Mahlatsi |
| MEC for Social Development | Nokwanje Selina Leeto |
| MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation | Ntobizanele Beauty Sifuba |
Departments
Below are the 12 departments in the Free State Government:
- Office of the Premier
- Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport
- Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)
- Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA)
- Department of Education (FSDoE)
- Department of Health (FSDoH)
- Department of Human Settlements
- Free State Provincial Treasury
- Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
- Department of Social Development
- Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation
Local government
The Free State Province consists of 1 metropolitan municipality, Mangaung and four district municipalities. The district municipalities are divided into 18 local municipalities.
The municipalities are listed below;
- Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
- Fezile Dabi District Municipality
- Lejweleputswa District Municipality
- Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality
- Xhariep District Municipality
Free State Public Entities
Contact Details
The contact details of the Free State Provincial Government are listed in the table below.
| Physical Address: | 4th Floor, OR Tambo Building, Corner of Saint Andrew and Markgraaf Street, Bloemfontein, 9300 |
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 517, Bloemfontein, 9300 |
| Telephone: | 051 405 5942 |
| Website: | www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za |
