Pretoria - In recognising public servants who are committed to serving the country, the Ministry for Public Service and Administration will this week host the 2nd National Batho Pele Excellence Awards (NBPEA).
Eligible to public servants from across the three spheres of government, the awards represent a move towards transforming and professionalising the public service, improving service delivery as well as putting into operation the idea towards building a capable state, as articulated in the National Development Plan (NDP).
The NDP contributes to the constitutional imperative to create a public administration that is professional, responsive, capable and responsible.
This year’s awards will be held under the theme: “Reinventing the way public servants work: Batho Pele, Putting People First”, in line with the ministry’s vision.
The award ceremony will take place at 6pm on Friday at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.
“The purpose of the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards is to entrench the transformation and professionalisation of the public service, rewarding excellent service delivery and recognising the contribution by public servants across government to add to the drive for service delivery improvement,” said the ministry in a statement on Monday.
The awards reflect on the implementation of the Batho Pele principles, as well as on government priorities and initiatives.
National, provincial and local government officials are eligible to enter, as well as national and provincial public institutions with nominations open to colleagues and members of the public for any category.
Public servants employed in the South African public service in terms of the Public Service Act (1994), the Employment of Educators Act (55 of 1998), the Correctional Services Act (111 of 1998), the Police Act (68 of 1995), the Defence Act (42 of 2002), the Municipal Systems Act (2000) and the Municipal Structures Act (1998), as well as the respective legislative amendments are eligible to enter.
Public officials in the Chapter Nine institutions, including employees on formal contracts and on probation, are also eligible to enter.
The nominees should at least have been employed for a minimum period of two years in the public service. In the case of a project being nominated, it should at least have been in operation for a year.
In the Life Time Achievement category, active, retired or deceased public servants are eligible. The nominees should at least have been employed for a minimum of two years in the public service.
Awards will be awarded in the following categories:
1) Best Head of Department of the Year (Provincial Government)
2) Best Front-Line Service Delivery Employee of the Year
3) Best Batho Pele Team of the Year
4) Best Functioning Provincial Department of the Year
5) Best Implemented Programme or Project of the Year
6) Overall Batho Pele Performer
7) Life-Time Achiever (public service area)
During their time as winners, and in subsequent years of their serving the public, the nominated individuals are expected to continue to demonstrate, maintain and sustain the level and standard of service performance which won them the award.
It is incumbent on them to also share their best practices by providing advice and guidance to others.
The winners are further expected to serve as ambassadors for service excellence by encouraging, motivating and promoting good practices across the public sector.-SAnews.gov.za
