ADDRESS BY PREMIER
Mr and Madam Programme Director
Director General Adv. Soko;
Chairperson of the Youth Commission Mr. Mxolisi Dladla;
Deputy Director General Mr. Hussein Verachia;
Managers in your respective Directorates and Sections;
Officers in your respective points of work.
It is my pleasure to address you this day after a year of hard work and dedication.
When I was informed about this occasion I became so excited because very rare do we find time as Politicians to mix, speak and listen to the arm of service delivery, the employees to the Public Service.
Let me state it very clear ahead of everything, “ Government would not be able to meet its functions and obligations without you.”
You are such and important stakeholder in the affairs of both Government and the State. The year 2000 has been a difficult one but also challenging .
As we entered the year 2000, floods were all over us especially the Lowveld part of our province and our neighbours in Mozambique. Many people lost their lives and their loved ones; they lost houses and valuable properties.
It has also been challenging in that we had to prepare ourselves for the local government elections, held already on the 5 th of December 2000. I want to thank all of you who sacrificed their time and assisted during this needy period of our lives.
The year 2000 has gone pass without any labour unrest. I am sure all of you are happy that this time you did not need to submit a memorandum of demands before reaching a settlement at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council.
This represents a commitment by the state in transforming and improving the conditions of work in the public service so that we could have a highly dedicated, motivated and commited working force.
As we entered the year, we developed a plan of action, which would guide us in discharging our functions and obligations to our customers.
We committed ourselves to serve our government and its people with more diligence, love and care. We committed ourselves in promoting economic growth for people to have jobs.
We promised to engender good governance. We did so not because we were compelled, but for the love and commitment we have in rebuilding our province, our country and our nation.
Today we can proudly convince ourselves that we are on track with our plan. Through your support and dedication, we have managed to develop and implement the restructuring process in the Office of the Premier into a strategic centre of Government in the Province.
To date most of the critical posts have been filled. We are on track with the implementation of the integrated implementation plan, which embodies the accelerated levels of service delivery, the strategic plan, human resource plan and the organogram.
We have celebrated numerous functions like the Freedom day, Women's day, the provincial consultative conference on disability and the disability achievers awards.
The cabinet outreach programme has been another area of major success. Through this programme we managed to reach out to communities and take government closer to the people. People's understanding about the roles and activities of government has been improved and broadened.
The Cabinet outreach program has further assisted to promote a positive image of Government. Remember we promised our people that we shall govern, together with them. With no reservation, I wish to commend all of you for these achievements.
However, Mr. and Madam Programme Director, I need to mention some of the grey areas: I had since noticed that not all of you are highly motivated in doing your work.
I have discovered that problems such as non-punctuality, failure to use office hours for official duties, unauthorized absenteeism and generally low morale are still common in my department
All these things reflect a negative and bad image about the institution and us. We cannot behave like in a situation where there are no rules, or where people make their own rules individually.
I wish to call upon you today to be highly disciplined as possible. Our institution should be the best model of Law and policy implementation and adherence.
Our institution must be corrupt free. Our institution must have proper use of state property.
I have also learned that many of you are worried over a number of bread and butter issues such as, appointments or placements, promotions, assessments for salary adjustments and merit awards, victimization and so forth. Let me reassure you that these matters will be attended to.
Mr. Programme Director there are other challenges that still remain, although we are slowly but surely getting to the right point.
We have a challenge to transform and make our workplace become democratic institutions that encourage maximum participation in policy and decision making processes. Each of you has a major role to play in ensuring that we provide our customers with quality service and good customer care.
We must project a good image of the institution and ourselves especially to our main customers, the public. We all need to ensure that all of us uphold the Code of Conduct and Ethics of the Public Service.
Once more I wish to call upon you today, to recommit yourselves to serve this government and the people of Mpumalanga with renewed zeal and oemph.
Let us promote effective and efficient administration. Let us implement good financial control and management systems. Through your support, together with you, we will always succeed.
Lastly, in this year's Christmas, let us make sure that it comes with renewed morality in us. Let the birth of Christ be a symbol of hope for a better future and the success of this government and each of us in years to come. I also want to request you to do me this favour.
Please, stay away from DRINKING AND DRIVING, ARRIVE ALIVE, DON'T FOOL YOURSELF, SPEED KILLS!
I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a happy prosperous New Year. It is my pleasure to invite all of you to enjoy with me the meals prepared in recognition of your hardwork and effort.
Let's enjoy ourselves – Kuyoze kuyovalwa!
I thank you.