Various government departments, including agencies, have visited Soshanguve Crossing as part of the service delivery campaign, launched at the beginning of the month, by Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo.
The aim of the visit on Friday was to bring services to the doorstep of the community.
Government Communications (GCIS) was among the departments, including Home Affairs and Health, whose officials tended to the needs of the locals.
September is observed as Public Service Month (PSM) in South Africa. It serves as a reminder of what it means to serve communities and to also look at the impact government has on communities.
As part of PSM, public servants are expected to roll up their sleeves and spring clean their service delivery points; visit schools, hospitals, police stations and courts to talk to citizens and mediate the delivery of services to get things done.
Public servants are expected to unblock the bottlenecks and red-tape in the delivery of services; ensure systems and infrastructure are working and public resources are being used efficiently to the benefit of citizens. They must also recommit themselves to “belong, to care and to serve the people”.
GCIS Director of Marketing and Distribution, Nicolette Prinsloo, told SAnews that Public Service Month is the perfect opportunity to keep a finger on the pulse of communities.
Prinsloo said they were well received by the community of Soshanguve.
“The reaction was overwhelming. We had students coming to enquire about the various services offered by government,” she said.
According to Prinsloo, officials have so far visited the communities of Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria; Mamelodi, east of Pretoria and Hamanskraal.
Soshanguve resident Thato Lebese said she was pleased that government had brought services to their area.
“Now I don’t have to go to town to enquire about my father’s pension money. The Department of Labour is here,” she said.
According to Lebese, government departments should visit communities more often.
James Rabotho, also a Soshanguve resident, said he has always wanted to go to SASSA offices in town but could not because he did not have money for transport.
“I am happy that they are here. I don’t have to spend money on transport going to their offices in town. I am also happy that the Department of Home Affairs officials are also here to assist with applications,” Rabotho said.
Government is using Public Service Month to reignite, install and rebuild good ethics and professionalism in how public servants do their work.
The month serves as an opportunity to highlight service delivery improvement initiatives across the public service - in line with the ‘Batho Pele - Putting People First’ programme.
The Department of Health, which offered free health screening, including HIV testing, was also on site in Soshanguve. Officials from Harambee were present too to advise unemployed young people about job opportunities. – SAnews.gov.za
