Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae has welcomed the appointment of Major-General Thabang Solomon Lesia as the new Provincial Police Commissioner, describing the move as a critical step in strengthening the fight against crime and rebuilding public trust in policing.

In a statement on Monday, Letsoha-Mathae said the appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Free State.

“This appointment comes at a critical time in our province, where the fight against crime and the restoration of public trust in law enforcement remain a top priority,” she said.

The premier highlighted Lesia’s roots in the province, expressing confidence that his local understanding would enhance policing outcomes.

“We are particularly encouraged that Major General Lesia is a Free Stater, who understands the unique challenges, dynamics, and needs of our communities,” she said.

With 39 years of policing experience, Lesia began his career as a student constable in 1986 and rose through the ranks, serving in a range of operational and strategic roles.

His experience includes stints as Detective Commander at Seloseha Police Station in Thaba Nchu, Station Commander at Virginia and Thabong police stations, Cluster Commander in Mangaung, and Provincial Commander for Organised Crime.

Most recently, he served as Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for policing in the Free State.

Letsoha-Mathae said his extensive experience and institutional knowledge position him well to address the province’s crime challenges.

“With over three decades of experience in policing and a deep understanding of operational environments, Major General Lesia brings the kind of leadership, stability, and institutional knowledge required to strengthen crime prevention and improve service delivery across the province,” she said.

The provincial government has prioritised tackling serious crimes, including gender-based violence and femicide, drug-related offences and organised criminal activity.

The premier said authorities are ready to work closely with the new commissioner to intensify interventions.

“The Provincial Government looks forward to working closely with the new Commissioner to intensify efforts against crime, including gender-based violence and femicide, drug-related crimes, and organized criminal activities,” she said.

“We are confident that his appointment will contribute positively towards building safer communities and enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the people of the Free State.”

Lesia holds a BTech degree and a National Diploma in Policing, and takes over the top policing post in the province following the retirement of Baile Motswenyane at the end of January.

His appointment comes against the backdrop of a complex legacy left by his predecessor, Motswenyane, whose tenure combined notable achievements with sustained criticism from political stakeholders.

Motswenyane, who served more than 35 years in policing, made history as the first woman in South Africa to be appointed an area commander and oversaw policing across 112 stations in the Free State.

During her tenure, she led key initiatives, including the opening of the Sonskyn Police Station and introduced school drilling competitions aimed at improving police visibility.

She also presided over memorial initiatives, including the unveiling of a Wall of Remembrance at Parkweg Police Station.

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ANC Free State chair Mxolisi Dukwana has delivered a blunt assessment of the party’s state in the province, warning that political infighting, corruption and the failure to deliver basic services have “torn apart” the organisation.

Dukwana was speaking during closing remarks at a two-day Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) lekgotla at the Bloemfontein Showgrounds on Sunday.

The meeting focused on unity, governance, service delivery and organisational renewal ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections later this year.

Dukwana said party structures had long been warned about the damage being done to the ANC’s standing and historical mission.

“What is going to be our legacy as the leadership of the ANC, as the leadership in government, in municipalities? What legacy are we leaving to the generation of leaders that is coming behind us? Are we leaving an ANC full of factions, an ANC that has ineffective branches that are non-existent? What kind of an ANC are we leaving behind?” he asked.

He said the lekgotla was responding directly to a national call for discipline and renewal, referencing the January 8 Statement that declared 2026 the year of decisive action to fix local government and transform the economy.

Dukwana stressed that the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had resolved to run the party with zero tolerance for corruption, ill-discipline and factionalism in an effort to restore public trust.

Turning to governance failures, he declared “war” on inaction, dysfunction and complacency in municipalities.

“The Free State people continue to speak and their message is unequivocal. They want a government that works and they want the ANC that is present and functional to lead the change through quality service, not promises,” he said.

He pledged immediate consequences for underperformance and corruption.

“We will no longer tolerate underperforming, corrupt or negligent political and administrative officials. The days of using government positions as a source of material wealth are over,” Dukwana said.

His remarks come a week after Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae faced allegations of trying to sabotage the ANC’s delayed January 8 celebrations.

The event, held at Trompsburg Stadium on 17 January 2026 to mark the party’s anniversary, reportedly exposed deepening divisions in the provincial leadership, with claims that funds and logistics were withheld to undermine key figures.

Sources close to the PEC allege the moves were aimed at weakening Dukwana and provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng amid ongoing power struggles.

ANC leader and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee chair Soviet Lekganyane warned that resistance to renewal was coming from within the organisation itself.

“There is organised resistance to the renewal agenda. And this resistance is internal. There is no one outside. People outside, ordinary men and women, are looking to the government to deliver services to them, the services that we have promised them,” he said.

Lekganyane accused some leaders of clinging to positions without exercising real leadership, arguing that leadership is not merely about election or appointment, but about choosing to act decisively in the country’s interest.

“At a time when municipalities are confronted by a myriad of challenges, the leadership has been directed to take decisive action against rogue deployees,” he said.

The provincial lekgotla forms part of similar gatherings across the country, as ANC structures seek to regain public trust and reposition the party ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

Motsoeneng, addressing the lekgotla earlier on Sunday, also called for decisive implementation of party resolutions, saying the movement’s greatest weakness had been the slow or uneven execution of its own policies.

“The NEC over the years through various platforms has adopted progressive and life-changing policies. However, the weaknesses that have besieged our movement are, amongst others, non-implementation or slow implementation of policies,” he said.

He warned that local government would be the central battleground ahead of the 2026 local elections, with water, sanitation and electricity failures eroding public trust.

Municipalities, he said, would be required to strengthen cooperation with Eskom, roll out smart meters, fix billing systems and halt wasteful, irregular and fruitless expenditure.

ANC Free State spokesperson Thabo Meeko said the lekgotla programme included a municipality-by-municipality assessment of failures in areas such as Mangaung and Matjhabeng, deteriorating roads critical to agriculture and mining, and collapsing basic infrastructure.

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