Gauteng recommits to Batho Pele

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Senior public servants in Gauteng have all signed a pledge recommitting to serve the public with dignity and high standards of accountability.

This pledge recommits the senior managers to the Batho Pele principles and is a rally behind the new dawn calls by the provincial government.

The term Batho Pele -- 'People First' -- means putting other people first before considering your own needs/yourself.

Public servants are required to practice Batho Pele principles, which have eight guidelines. These are consultation, service standards, courtesy, access, information, openness and transparency, dealing with complaints and giving the best value.

The pledges were signed on Wednesday after the meeting took place in Centurion, Tshwane, with Premier Makhura.

The meeting comes after the commitment Premier Makhura made during the State of the Province Address on Monday where he promised all South Africans that he will be meeting with all senior managers to discuss a renewal of public service in the wake of the Life Esidimeni tragedy, which glaringly showed government’s service delivery challenges.

“Public servants should be aware of the enormous responsibility they have as millions of people depend on the service they render. We need determined, ethical and dedicated public servants.

“It would be a problem if we think the Life Esidimeni tragedy is only the problem of the Department of Health. It might seem like it’s the only department but on a daily basis, citizens endure victimisation from public servants who are hired to serve them.”

Premier Makhura reiterated that stability, continuity and consistency were key in ensuring that public service worked better.

He made a call to senior managers to leave the meeting with a renewed sense of service and commended those senior managers whose departments have received clean audits in the past financial year.

He further warned corrupt senior managers that he has appointed an ethics advisory council led by civil society to help Gauteng fight corruption, warning senior managers that this new dawn demands even more accountability as well as consequence for people who break the law. - SAnews.gov.za