Bloemfontein. The Free State provincial government has named two senior officials to lead critical departments as part of a wider effort to professionalise the provincial administration and strengthen delivery. Pakiso Elias Lebone has been appointed Head of Department of Provincial Treasury effective 1 November 2026, and Tsheliso Job Mohlomi will take up the post of HOD of Economic Development and Tourism on 1 December 2026.
Appointments intended to boost capacity and accountability
The Premier, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, described the moves as part of a sustained programme of professionalisation intended to place “suitably qualified, experienced and capable people in strategic leadership positions”. The provincial statement framed the selections as measures to strengthen competence, accountability and measurable service delivery across the administration.
“The people of this province have waited long enough for rhetoric. They want to see results: jobs, opportunities, better services and dignity. Professionalising the civil service means putting the right people in the right positions, based on merit, competence and the ability to deliver,” the Premier said.
The appointments follow the provincial government’s stated commitment to merit-based selections and to build institutional capacity so that government priorities can be translated into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives. The Premier emphasised that the new HODs will be held to clear performance and accountability standards.
Roles and expectations
The Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism are pivotal for fiscal management and economic planning. In announcing the changes the provincial administration said the Treasury HOD must strengthen fiscal discipline and expenditure oversight, while the Economic Development and Tourism HOD is expected to focus on job creation, investment attraction and supporting local economic activity.
- Strengthen fiscal discipline and expenditure oversight in Provincial Treasury.
- Drive job creation, investment and tourism-led growth in Economic Development and Tourism.
- Ensure measurable service delivery and accountability across departments.
The provincial release framed these appointments as continuing the Premier’s “deliberate drive” to professionalise the civil service rather than one-off interventions. It stated that the new HODs form part of an ongoing effort to build “a capable, ethical, responsive and results-driven provincial administration”.
Immediate impacts and next steps
The new HODs take up their responsibilities in the run-up to the 2027 financial year planning and following recent pressures on provincial budgets and service delivery. The announcement did not provide details on transitional arrangements for outgoing department heads, performance targets, or contract terms. The provincial statement, however, made clear that the appointments come with explicit expectations regarding performance and accountability.
Below is a simple summary of the appointments:
| Position | Appointee | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Head of Department: Provincial Treasury | Pakiso Elias Lebone | 1 November 2026 |
| Head of Department: Economic Development & Tourism | Tsheliso Job Mohlomi | 1 December 2026 |
For ordinary residents and businesses in the Free State the appointments signal an intention to stabilise leadership in departments that shape provincial budgets and economic programmes. How quickly the new heads can translate pledges into visible improvements — such as faster service delivery, more transparent expenditure and new economic opportunities — will be closely watched by municipalities, farmers, small-business owners and labour groups.
The Premier’s office framed the action as a step away from rhetoric towards measurable outcomes. The administration will need to follow up with published performance frameworks and regular reporting to demonstrate that the appointments yield the intended improvements.
The provincial government release did not include biographical detail on the appointees or further information about performance contracts. Questions about transitional arrangements, performance metrics and how these appointments fit into the broader provincial strategic plan remain outstanding and will be important to assess whether the professionalisation drive achieves its stated aims.
