Date: 06/11/2006
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Balindlela: Launch of Public Service Week
Address by Eastern Cape Premier, Mrs Nosimo Balindlela, at the launch of the Public Service Week
Programme Director,
Members of the Executive Council,
Members of Parliament,
Honourable Executive Mayor for Amathole District Council,
Honourable Mayor of Buffalo City,
Members of the local government structures,
Distinguished guests,
Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today we are here at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital as both the leadership and officials of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government to revitalise our pledge and commitment to serving the people of the province with humility, honesty and integrity. We are here to mark the launch of the Public Service Week, a week which we dedicate to the acceleration of service delivery through increased access to information taking services to the people and most importantly awakening and responding to service delivery challenges.
We have always been cognisant of the fact that access is vital to accelerating service delivery, eradicating socio-economic marginalisation and achieving the objectives of the developmental State.
In response to that we have over the past years through our Batho Pele campaign aimed at inculcating a culture of citizen centric and pro-poor approach to service delivery increased access to services through a number of strategies amongst which include: *?Using our provincial events to provide a range of services to our communities including identity document (ID) applications, births registrations, social grant registrations, mobile clinics etc. has ensured multiplication of the benefits of our services.
* An engagement of Community Development Workers (CDWs) across the province as foot soldiers to render salesmanship for government services has increased access to information and services.
*Setting up of customer care service units by all provincial departments and call centres also facilitates quick turnaround times in addressing and responding to queries and complaints by citizens.
The introduction of service delivery mediators and monitors by the Office of the Premier in each district municipality, to play the interface role with the communities has seen unblocking of service delivery blockages across the province.
As I mentioned in the State of the Province address this year we are focusing on service excellence. We are implementing a revamped project called "Balasela" or Service Excellence programme, which will set our government even more firmly on its way to a more co-ordinated platform for pro-poor service delivery by enhancing institutional operational efficiency and effectiveness. I am proud to learn that all our departments have recently concluded the development of their service standards which we will be launching on 28 November together with our "Balasela/Excellence" programme.
In our attempt to continue fulfilling the fundamental constitutional principle of "Just Service Delivery," we are now focusing on a vigorous Batho Pele revitalisation campaign. Through this campaign we want to escalate Batho Pele to a higher trajectory by putting in place strategies to address service delivery challenges at the coal face.
The analysis thus far has indicated we still fall short of fully implementing Batho Pele so that people down on the coalface experience it.
This year the Public Service Week's focus is on improvement of services by identifying challenges and developing workable solutions to such service delivery impediments, while exposing political leadership including our senior managers to the coalface environment. We want to create a platform to encourage senior managers in all departments to interface with citizens, thus making them appreciate the gaps between policy formulation and implementation.
This is also part of encouraging provincial departments to institutionalise customer or service user management programmes including:
*?Service Delivery Watch comprising MECs and Senior Management visits to service delivery points so as to create a state of awakening to the cadres deployed in those areas
* "Khaedu", the Senior Management Service (SMS) Delivery Challenge programme which the Director-General (DG) spoke about this morning is emphasising a culture of zooming closer to our community needs and dirtying our hands across all levels of management to ensure full beneficiation of the poor on government services.
The continuous review and refinement service standards and service delivery improvement plans not only as a compliance issue but as part of addressing service delivery challenges and aiming at continuous improvement.
Hence this week politicians and public servants will converge at service delivery points to examine challenges, monitor how the services are provided and to really portray the 'government at work.' The challenges identified will feed into our service delivery improvement programmes as the various departments.
It is on this basis that I call on all of us to stand up and put our shoulders to the wheel, and make government work for the people. Success of this programme depends on provincial departments pulling together.
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
6 November 2006
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Balindlela: Launch of Public Service Week
Address by Eastern Cape Premier, Mrs Nosimo Balindlela, at the launch of the Public Service Week
Programme Director,
Members of the Executive Council,
Members of Parliament,
Honourable Executive Mayor for Amathole District Council,
Honourable Mayor of Buffalo City,
Members of the local government structures,
Distinguished guests,
Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today we are here at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital as both the leadership and officials of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government to revitalise our pledge and commitment to serving the people of the province with humility, honesty and integrity. We are here to mark the launch of the Public Service Week, a week which we dedicate to the acceleration of service delivery through increased access to information taking services to the people and most importantly awakening and responding to service delivery challenges.
We have always been cognisant of the fact that access is vital to accelerating service delivery, eradicating socio-economic marginalisation and achieving the objectives of the developmental State.
In response to that we have over the past years through our Batho Pele campaign aimed at inculcating a culture of citizen centric and pro-poor approach to service delivery increased access to services through a number of strategies amongst which include: *?Using our provincial events to provide a range of services to our communities including identity document (ID) applications, births registrations, social grant registrations, mobile clinics etc. has ensured multiplication of the benefits of our services.
* An engagement of Community Development Workers (CDWs) across the province as foot soldiers to render salesmanship for government services has increased access to information and services.
*Setting up of customer care service units by all provincial departments and call centres also facilitates quick turnaround times in addressing and responding to queries and complaints by citizens.
The introduction of service delivery mediators and monitors by the Office of the Premier in each district municipality, to play the interface role with the communities has seen unblocking of service delivery blockages across the province.
As I mentioned in the State of the Province address this year we are focusing on service excellence. We are implementing a revamped project called "Balasela" or Service Excellence programme, which will set our government even more firmly on its way to a more co-ordinated platform for pro-poor service delivery by enhancing institutional operational efficiency and effectiveness. I am proud to learn that all our departments have recently concluded the development of their service standards which we will be launching on 28 November together with our "Balasela/Excellence" programme.
In our attempt to continue fulfilling the fundamental constitutional principle of "Just Service Delivery," we are now focusing on a vigorous Batho Pele revitalisation campaign. Through this campaign we want to escalate Batho Pele to a higher trajectory by putting in place strategies to address service delivery challenges at the coal face.
The analysis thus far has indicated we still fall short of fully implementing Batho Pele so that people down on the coalface experience it.
This year the Public Service Week's focus is on improvement of services by identifying challenges and developing workable solutions to such service delivery impediments, while exposing political leadership including our senior managers to the coalface environment. We want to create a platform to encourage senior managers in all departments to interface with citizens, thus making them appreciate the gaps between policy formulation and implementation.
This is also part of encouraging provincial departments to institutionalise customer or service user management programmes including:
*?Service Delivery Watch comprising MECs and Senior Management visits to service delivery points so as to create a state of awakening to the cadres deployed in those areas
* "Khaedu", the Senior Management Service (SMS) Delivery Challenge programme which the Director-General (DG) spoke about this morning is emphasising a culture of zooming closer to our community needs and dirtying our hands across all levels of management to ensure full beneficiation of the poor on government services.
The continuous review and refinement service standards and service delivery improvement plans not only as a compliance issue but as part of addressing service delivery challenges and aiming at continuous improvement.
Hence this week politicians and public servants will converge at service delivery points to examine challenges, monitor how the services are provided and to really portray the 'government at work.' The challenges identified will feed into our service delivery improvement programmes as the various departments.
It is on this basis that I call on all of us to stand up and put our shoulders to the wheel, and make government work for the people. Success of this programme depends on provincial departments pulling together.
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
6 November 2006
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