Public servants must 'serve' the public

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the South African public has a constitutional right to expect decent services from the public servants who are there to serve them and resolve problems. Image: Canvas

"The Constitution requires that all people in South Africa be served by a professional public administration that works fairly, equitably and without bias while using resources effectively, efficiently and economically," said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at the launch of Public Service Month.

The first urban Thusong Service Centre at Maponya Mall, in Soweto, was opened by Ramaphosa who said public servants need to respond to peoples' needs, and be accountable, transparent and development-oriented.

"Public servants need to become change agents, enablers and facilitators. They need to collaborate with citizens to resolve complex service delivery challenges," Ramaphosa said.

He said citizens have a legitimate expectation that services will be provided in a timely manner and close to where they live and where payment is required, these services should be affordable.

"Effective public administration is not a privilege in a democratic society. It is a fundamental right," he said.

Public Service Month

Public Service Month is an annual service delivery initiative celebrated in September that seeks to instil and rebuild good ethics, morale and pride in public servants as part of the Batho Pele Revitalisation strategy.

Maponya Mall where a new Thusong Service Centre has been opened for members of the public in Soweto. Image: Gauteng

Batho Pele, a Sesotho word which means "People First", is an initiative that was launched in 1997 by government to help transform the public service.

Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane said they will focus the month on the frontline service delivery points. During the Public Service month, multi-department task teams of senior managers will be deployed to frontline service delivery sites.

Government has made strides since the advent of democracy. Among the initiatives introduced by government to improve public service include the introduction of izimbizo programme, the Presidential Hotline and service delivery checks at public institutions and Thusong Service Centres.

Get back to basics

"We need to go back to the basics. We need to put our people first, treat them with respect and address their needs," he said, adding that the programme will be included in the strategic and operational plans of all government departments.

As part of the holistic approach, government will also institutionalise the Service Charter which commits public servants to serve citizens promptly, courteously and help them make the right choices in accessing services.

The Urban Thusong Services Centre is a one stop shop for various essential services provided by government through the departments of Labour, Home Affairs, Transport, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Gauteng Department of Finance and Gauteng Enterprise Propeller.

The centres also eliminate duplication of infrastructure by government departments.

Piloted in 2011, the Maponya Mall Thusong Service Centre has become an invaluable resource to this community and services as it serves approximately 61 000 beneficiaries on a quarterly basis.

Since the introduction of the centres 15-years-ago, 183 centres have been established in 107 local municipalities. Government envisages that more Thusong Service Centres will now be linked to shopping malls.