Her aim is to restore hope in healthcare services for the people of the Free State, the province’s new Health MEC Mathabo Leeto said shortly after being sworn in on 14 March. Leeto’s appointment was part of a reshuffle of the provincial executive council after Mxolisi Dukwana was sworn in as the Free State’s new Premier. Leeto is no stranger to provincial governance; she served as MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2019 and was mayor of Matjhabeng Local Municipality in Welkom from 2007 to 2009. She is also currently the provincial treasurer of the ANC.
Leeto cautioned against expecting miracles, emphasizing that her main focus will be to strengthen relations with all stakeholders in the health sector to improve services. “I believe that I will be given a handover report and, on the basis of that report, we will be able to make decisions. I will try to engage everyone so that we can work as a collective,” she said. She added that she will involve labour movements and other stakeholders, noting that “miracles will happen if we work as a collective.” The Health MEC also wants communities involved in ensuring that facilities and programmes aimed at promoting health are implemented. “We want to ensure that our clinics and hospitals are user‑friendly and that our people receive their medication timeously,” she said.
When asked about incomplete infrastructure projects at several health facilities, Leeto said those responsible must be held accountable. “We cannot have projects that are incomplete as public funds were spent. We will have to look at this and those who are accountable will have to answer,” she said.
The day after her swearing‑in, Leeto convened a meeting with the head of the health department, Godfrey Mahlatsi, and senior managers to set the tone for her tenure, according to Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the Free State Department of Health. Mvambi said the new MEC made clear that she wants to strengthen the capacity of the health team and improve health outcomes for the community. In the meeting she highlighted the need to upscale public information about the referral system so that patients are directed to the right facility at the right time, and to improve public education and awareness about disease burdens.
Leeto also pointed to the need for a better complaints and compliments management system, ensuring that concerns are handled professionally and not ignored. Other priorities include improving ambulance response times—aiming for one ambulance per town—enhancing the cleanliness of facilities, providing quality food for patients, and increasing security for patients, staff and visitors.
In an interview with Spotlight, Leeto vowed that corruption would not be tolerated. “It cannot be business as usual in the department when officials are still attending court cases. We will have to look into the legislation first, and that will guide the decisions we need to make,” she said.
Professor Sethulego Matebesi, head of the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State, warned that the Dukwana administration will be tested and that Leeto will face extreme pressure. Earlier media reports linked her to alleged tender fraud during her tenure as mayor of Matjhabeng, but the National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, confirmed that all charges have been dropped, meaning she has no criminal record and is eligible for high office. Matebesi noted that the political environment has changed and the new administration aims to fight corruption. He expects improvements in the health department, especially regarding ambulance services, primary healthcare, and staff morale, particularly for nurses.
Opposition parties have taken a cautious stance. EFF chairperson Mapheule (Coach) Liphoko called Leeto’s appointment “problematic” due to her alleged involvement in a corrupt administration, saying the premier must not shy away from appointing “problematic” characters. He added that the party will watch her performance to see if she can deliver quality healthcare. The Democratic Alliance’s health spokesperson, Mariette Pittaway, said the party will give Leeto a chance and will monitor her work while continuing to fight for patients’ rights. However, the DA’s provincial chair, Roy Jankielsohn, was less optimistic, citing a collapsing health system, infrastructure and municipalities, and noting that many MECs in the Dukwana cabinet lack experience. He warned that the province’s problems could persist.
COSATU provincial secretary Monyatso oa Mahlatsi welcomed Leeto’s appointment, expressing confidence that she will help turn around the department and serve its members.
In the weeks leading up to Leeto’s appointment, some health‑sector actors called for the removal of the former Health MEC, Montseng Tsiu. SANCO spokesperson Tshepo Davids argued that progress in the Free State Department of Health required Tsiu’s removal. When asked about Tsiu’s performance, EFF’s Liphoko said her removal “is nothing to cry over,” adding that she “did not bring change or improve the department.” Conversely, DENOSA provincial secretary Brian Motshabi said the union had worked well with Tsiu, especially during the COVID‑19 outbreak, but acknowledged the department still faced many challenges and welcomed new energy in the form of Leeto, lamenting the loss of a leader with a clinical background. Tsiu has not responded to requests for comment and remains a member of the provincial legislature.
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