By Ursula Graaff
Johannesburg - Public servants who go the extra mile in delivering services by putting people first were honoured at the Batho Pele Excellence Awards in Johannesburg on Friday night.
The Batho Pele Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the public service with an ultimate goal of establishing professionalism in the public service.
At the glittering awards ceremony in Johannesburg, Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Chabane said the late former President Nelson Mandela was an example of what it means to serve others selflessly.
He said he was an example to all public servants.
“We host the 2014 National Batho Pele Excellence Awards celebrating the life of one of the longest serving public servants, former president and global icon Nelson Mandela, whose life, characterised by selflessness, was dedicated to serving all the people of our nation.”
He said the awards served as an opportunity for the public service to improve on their service deliveries and continue to build structures with people who are willing to serve others.
“The National Batho Pele Excellence Awards provide an opportunity for the public service to re-invent itself to deliver the national democratic society. For this to be realised, we acquire well-run and effectively coordinated state institutions with skilled public servants who are committed to serving our people.”
He concluded by congratulating those who would receive awards that evening.
“We congratulate those whose efforts are being recognised today. Let us continue to work as a collective to make the public service truly incredible.”
Winners were placed in different categories.
Duduzile Ndhlovu, from Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, was named the Best Front Line Service Delivery Employee of the Year.
The Provincial Treasury, KwaZulu-Natal was named the Best Functioning Provincial Department of the Year.
The Intensive Care Unit at the Mokopane Hospital, Department of Health in Limpopo clinched the Best Batho Pele Team of the Year award.
Boy Ngobeni from the Gauteng Department of Education was awarded the Best Provincial Head of Department of the Year award.
The overall Batho Pele Public Servant of the Year Award was handed to Maria Maghrieta Goodier from the Western Cape Department of Health, Community Health Centres. – SAnews.gov.za
