Programme Director, Deputy Minister Chohan
Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Malusi Gigaba
Acting Mayor of Ekurhuleni
The Speaker and Councillors present
DGs, CEOs, DDGs, Managers and all officials
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Programme Director, the Department of Home Affairs, by launching the Moetapele Initiative, has done a great service for the country and people of South Africa.
Moetapele will indeed advance the aims of the National Development Plan which has identified the task of improving the quality of public services as critical to achieving transformation, and has prioritised the need for the state to professionalise the public service and strengthen accountability.
It is in this regard that from the bottom of our hearts, we thank the Minister for igniting the principles of professionalism and leadership among the entire staff body, and for prioritising this, the official launch of our lamp of change that we have called Moetapele, after BaSotho, to denote a leader, inkokheli, die leier.
Honourable Minister, through this launch, you have indeed placed Moetapele “on a stand” for all to “see the light” that points the way to the great flight we ought to take to reach new frontiers, to change attitudes towards the people we serve, to serve with excellence as we document our people and foreign nationals who arrive on our shores.
As Home Affairs, we’re ready to lead for service excellence, ensuring clients come first. We’re mindful our department is central to state and national security, and plays a pivotal role in growth and development. Services we offer, people cannot get elsewhere.
We extend warm words of gratitude to all the members of the stakeholder forum, for their support in bringing services of Home Affairs closer to the people.
We’re also indebted to the people of Ekurhuleni and Gauteng, Councillors and community workers, for hosting us and for the invaluable support invested for this important occasion. With regard to the Ekurhuleni stakeholder forum, we wish to implore them to exercise oversight in respect of the Edenvale Office to ensure that this initiative is a success.
We are indebted to the principal of Edenvale High School for providing us with the venue for the launch.
All thanks to other DGs, CEOs, other government departments, social partners and stakeholders as well as service providers.
To my Colleagues, I wish to remind you that: “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light” – Luke 8:16.
The lamp you all assisted to light today, to “put it on a stand” where all can see it, and with us to tender it softly, to keep it always alight so that we can change lives for the better, is the Home Affairs leadership and change initiative – Moetapele.
At this point I want to thank these officials who have already shown the spirit of Moetapele:
- Nwabisa Bunjwa, from Harrison Street (who suggested the innovative design for the supervisor’s office in the front office);
- Ntswaki Sithole, from Head Office, (who suggested the ‘little famous room’ as the best place for displaying the notice about our Audit Intervention Strategies, so that everyone could read the message, we all visit this room); and
- Ephraim Magagane, from Itsoseng office, (who coined the name for the Moetapele Initiative.)
Moetapele is not an event however, it is a journey. Accordingly we have come up with a mechanism to receive ideas from staff members that will assist to move Home Affairs forward.
Therefore you are called upon to forward your ideas to this email address: Moetapele.initiative@dha.gov.za
Last but not least, I would like to give a special thanks to the organising team which was led by the DDG: Learning Academy, for putting together this event from conceptualisation, preparation and execution.
Managers, leaders and officials, ‘Keep up the good work. Continue brightening the corner where you!’
Finally, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Honourable Programme Director.
Once again, thank you all for gracing this occasion with your presence!
