Keynote address by Acting DG Donald Liphoko at the launch of the Annual Thusong Service Centre Week

Keynote address by Acting Director-General of Government Communication and Information System Donald Liphoko at the launch of the Annual Thusong Service Centre Week, Dududu, Vulamehlo Municipality

13 September 2015

Programme director
Representatives from Premiers Office
Representatives from COGTA

District Mayor: Cllr NH Gumede
Mayor:  Cllr Dube
Representatives from Sukuma Sakha Operation
Members of the Provincial Legislature present here
Fellow residents of Vulamehlo municipality-neighbouring villages and   townships.

Sanibonani, ninjani!

As we observe public service month combined with the launch of Thusong Service Week.  

It cannot be business as usual when public servants are not doing what there are hired to do. It cannot be business as usual when the public servants become too arrogant to serve their own members of the public. Just last week I was addressing my staff at the department of communications  in Pretoria,  I said to them that  does  that  are not willing  to pull their weight and  serve the public,  the  door is open. As public  servants we are  appointed  into these positions to serve  the  public not  just to collect  pay cheque , the  days of people  coming  to work  at 09:00 and leaving  the office  before  lunch are over.

As we launch the Thusong week, it is imperative to remind the public servants that they have the role to play in ensuring that citizens gets the service that they deserve.      

A week has been set aside to inform citizens about the services, information and opportunities available at their nearest Thusong Service Centres. It encourages public servants to deliver high quality services in support of government priorities, and recommit towards improving the way they work to deliver them.

Thusong Service Centre Programme is one of the first unique initiatives implemented by the South African Democratic Government which integrates services across the three spheres (National, Provincial and Local government).

This year marks the 16^th years of the Programme’s existence. This programme has created access not only to government information and services but also enables communities to access opportunities offered by other civil society groups, such as Businesses, Non-governmental Organisations and Parastatals.

Public and private partnership is key for bringing service delivery to the people in this country. Over the past seven years, we have progressively increased the number of public-private partnerships covering a wide range of sectors.

In his 2015 State of the Nation Address, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma called for more private-public partnerships to create jobs and build an inclusive country where all people enjoy equal privileges.  We are able to contribute towards improving people’s lives because of the partnership that our president called for. But we are saying government cannot do it alone, however as government we have made progress. Today the community of Vulamehlo are able to access basic social service without having to traveling long distance.      

It cannot  be  business as usual when  members of the public travel  long distance  to access  basic  social service , as government  we’re saying  the basic services  must be taken to people. 

Through the Thusong Service Centres, approximately five (5) million beneficiaries gain access to services from both government, Parastatals and Community Based Organizations on an annual basis.

The Thusong Service Week coincides with Public Service Month. We are celebrating under the theme “Moving South Africa Forward: Taking public services to the people”. Based on the Batho Pele principles, these centres help in promoting service delivery programmes, transfer of skills, employment creation and providing information on business opportunities for those who are interested in starting their own business.

Digital Migration

The implementation of Digital Migration Programme has emerged as a historic international agenda. These marks the biggest evolution of broadcasting services since the introduction of television services back in 1975 in South Africa

Broadcasting Digital Migration is not just a project that impact on television services, there is economic agenda behind its implementation. These include issues such as Electronic Manufacturing Industry Development and Broadcasting Content Development. We need Africa South Africa that is capable to produce for its own.  The growth of the film and documentary is key to the economy. The growth of the electronic manufacturing is also key for the economy.  The DTT project will ensure that there is growth in these sectors.  

I thank you

Issued by Government Communication and Information System