Free State Provincial Legislature · 7th Term

Policy Briefs

Evidence-based research, position papers, and legislative analysis from the ANC Free State Caucus — informing debate and driving better outcomes for Free State communities.

24
Briefs published · 7th term
8
Policy areas covered
18
Briefs cited in committee
16
MPLs briefed · 2025
Latest & Featured

Flagship briefs informing current legislative work and committee engagement in the Free State.

Health & NHI New · March 2025

NHI Implementation in the Free State: Readiness Assessment and Caucus Position 2025

A comprehensive assessment of the Free State's preparedness for National Health Insurance rollout, examining infrastructure gaps across district hospitals, human resource shortfalls, and the provincial health information system. The brief sets out the ANC caucus's position on accelerating NHI readiness and advocates for the immediate appointment of 380 vacant clinical posts, the upgrade of 14 district hospitals, and ring-fenced conditional grant funding for NHI pilot areas in Lejweleputswa and Thabo Mofutsanyana.

Health Committee · 18 pp · PDF
Housing New · Feb 2025

Addressing the Free State's 120,000-Unit Housing Backlog: A Caucus Action Plan

Analysis of the persistent housing delivery gap, with recommendations for accelerated HSDG disbursement, developer accountability frameworks, and Mangaung metro informal settlement upgrades as the immediate priority.

Human Settlements Committee · 12 pp
Water & Environment Jan 2025

Water Security in Kopanong: Emergency Interventions & Long-Term Solutions

An urgent brief on the water crisis gripping the Kopanong Local Municipality, outlining R95m emergency infrastructure requirements and a multi-year bulk water supply plan drawing on Lesotho Highlands Water Project royalties.

CoGTA Committee · 10 pp

Policy briefs library

Economic Development

Youth Employment and EPWP Effectiveness in the Free State

Examines the reach and impact of EPWP Phase IV across the province's five districts, identifying targeting gaps and proposing a graduated skills-to-employment pathway for young people aged 18–35 in rural areas.

February 2025 8 min read · 14 pp
Education

Towards Universal ECD Access: Closing the Early Childhood Gap

Analyses ECD subsidy coverage rates across 30 local municipalities, identifies 18 underserved areas, and proposes a phased funding model to achieve near-universal access to subsidised early childhood development by 2027.

January 2025 7 min read · 12 pp
Agriculture

Revitalising Agricultural Cooperatives in Thabo Mofutsanyana

Assesses the performance of 47 CASP-funded cooperatives in the district, identifies governance failures and market access barriers, and recommends a cooperative turnaround programme with tiered provincial support.

January 2025 6 min read · 11 pp
Governance

Municipal Finance Distress and Section 139 Interventions

Reviews the 8 municipalities currently under various forms of provincial intervention, analyses the effectiveness of Section 139 administration in Maluti-a-Phofung and Kopanong, and recommends a graduated early-warning and support framework.

November 2024 9 min read · 16 pp
Safety

CPF Effectiveness and Police Accountability in the Free State

A review of Community Policing Forum functionality across all 22 station areas, identifying funding shortfalls and training gaps, with recommendations for a provincial CPF revitalisation programme and civilian oversight improvements.

October 2024 7 min read · 13 pp
Economic Development

Free State Economic Reconstruction Plan — Year 2 Review

Mid-term evaluation of the provincial economic recovery strategy: SMME support take-up rates, investment facilitation outcomes, and progress on the Mangaung Economic Development Zone. Recommends course corrections for lagging tourism and agro-processing targets.

September 2024 10 min read · 18 pp
Education

School Infrastructure Backlog in Rural Free State Districts

Documents 112 schools with inadequate sanitation, 84 with unsafe structures, and 38 without electricity connectivity. Proposes a phased ASIDI/SAFE prioritisation framework with dedicated provincial co-funding of R420m over the MTEF period.

August 2024 8 min read · 15 pp
Health & NHI

Mental Health Services in the Free State: Closing the Care Gap

Reviews the critical shortage of psychiatric posts — 40% vacancy rate — and proposes a community mental health outreach model using CHWs and NGO partnerships as a bridge while state facilities are reinforced under the NHI transition framework.

July 2024 7 min read · 12 pp
Water & Environment

Sanitation Backlogs and Blue Drop Compliance in the Free State

Analyses the 68,000 households still reliant on bucket sanitation, maps Blue Drop / Green Drop failures across 14 water service authorities, and proposes a joined-up MIG and conditional grant spending plan to close gaps within five years.

June 2024 6 min read · 11 pp
Governance

Procurement Reform and Irregular Expenditure: ANC Caucus Proposals

In response to R2.1bn in irregular expenditure flagged by the Auditor-General, this brief proposes mandatory SCM process digitalisation, pre-approval panels for tenders above R1m, and quarterly irregular expenditure disclosure to the legislature.

October 2023 8 min read · 14 pp
Browse by Topic

Policy Areas

All ANC Free State Caucus briefs are organised across eight core policy domains reflecting the legislature's committee structure.

Health & NHI
2 briefs
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Education
2 briefs
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Economic Development
2 briefs
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Housing
1 brief
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Agriculture
1 brief
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Governance
2 briefs
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Water & Environment
2 briefs
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Safety
1 brief
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Help Shape Our Policy Work

The ANC Free State Caucus welcomes contributions from researchers, community leaders, and civil society organisations. Here's how you can engage.

01
Submit a Policy Idea
Have an issue affecting your community that deserves legislative attention? Submit a brief proposal and our research team will assess it for inclusion in the caucus research agenda.
02
Partner as a Researcher
Are you an academic, think-tank, or independent researcher? The caucus invites formal research partnerships on commissioned briefs, with co-authorship and full attribution.
03
Request a Briefing
MPLs, civil servants, or community organisations can request a briefing session on any published brief. Sessions can be arranged in Bloemfontein or virtually across all five districts.