Purpose
The purpose of this document is to outline the activities of the Ministry for Public Service and Administration (MPSA) aimed at celebrating 95th birthday of the first democratic president, Nelson Mandela. The document also seeks to communicate commitments by MPSA entities (SITA, PALAMA, GEMS and CPSI) towards this celebration.
Background
On the 18th July 2013 people around the world will join South Africa in celebrating 95th birthday of the former President Nelson Mandela. The Cabinet recently called on all South Africans to celebrate this year’s Nelson Mandela Day in style. The 2013 Nelson Mandela Day Celebration comes at a time when former president has been in a hospital for more than a month.
This year’s theme will be celebrated under the theme “Take Action, inspire change, make every day a Mandela Day” with focus on food security, shelter and literacy.
Since 2012 MPSA had been celebrating National Days as one big family, inclusive of all DPSA portfolios. In responding to a call by Cabinet, MPSA has put together resources to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day in Alexandria, Eastern Cape two days prior Madiba’s birthday on the 18th July 2013. MPSA resources will seek to focus on two out of three areas of the Cabinet instruction.
In addition to MPSA activities, Home Affairs and SASSA will also be present to provide their services to the local community members.
3. MPSA activities per portfolio
3.1 state information technology agency
3.1.1 Alexandria Primary School
SITA will donate 40 classmate PCs to Alexandria Primary School. The Classmate is a government approved NetBoot which has been specifically designed for learning. These PCs are rugged, affordable, child-friendly notebooks that integrate technology into the lives of students, teachers, administrators and parents.
In addition the lab will be equipped with appropriate desks and chairs, printer, whiteboard, laptops, projector, servers, air-conditioning. The Classmate PCs will also come equipped with appropriate educational software and educators will receive approximately three months training in the use of the classmate PCs.
In order to ensure sustainability of the project SITA will provide on-going technical maintenance and support. SITA will leverage its Internship Program to place an Intern on site at the school to provide support to teachers and learners on an on-going basis.
3.1.2 Ukhanyo High School
SITA will upgrade the existing computer laboratory by donating 25 PCs , an interactive white board, projector, Printer, computer chairs, Air conditioning , server, cabinet, appropriate educational software and training for teachers for approximately three months.
In order to ensure sustainability of the project SITA will provide on-going technical maintenance and support. SITA will leverage its Internship Program to place an Intern on site at the school to provide support to teachers and learners on an on-going basis.
3.1.3 Rugby Balls
Since many of the schools in the Alexandria area are passionate about Rugby, SITA will donate ninety rugby balls to four different schools, Alexandria Primary school, Bhongweni Primary school, Zuney Primary School and Ukhanyo Secondary School. These rugby balls were part of the table decor for the gala dinner of the GovTech 2011 Conference. As a good corporate citizen SITA adopted the GovTech environmental vision which aims to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment and leave behind a social legacy for the local community.
3.2 Public Administration and Leadership Academy
In response to one of the 2013 Mandela Day focus areas, PALAMA will provide training to more than twenty five unemployed graduates of Alexandria. The training on Breaking Barriers to Entry will empower graduates to understand government policies and its processes. In addition to this participants will be entered into government database for internships and learnerships.
Over and above providing training to unemployed graduates, PALAMA will also donate more than 150 wonder bags to elderly women and two computers to Zuney Primary School.
3.3 Centre for Public Sector Innovation
CPSI will assist two schools with permaculture gardens and sanitation solution (Biodiversity).
3.3.1 The Biodiversity Project: Ukhanyo Secondary School and Bhongweni Primary School
The Biodiversity project is modelled on the 2011 CPSI and AAPISA Innovator of the Year award winner project, namely, The Rural Sustainable Villages. The project selects a village or an establishment which is totally self-sustainable through the use of innovative technologies. The project involves, amongst others, the establishment, equipping and the support of organic food gardens at schools. The school becomes an excellent vehicle for school-to-community empowerment. In addition to the permaculture garden, an array of alternative energy technologies and other systems are introduced to support sustainability in a rural context.
The project will be delivered in two phases:
Food gardening
The food garden will be established to supply organic vegetables to the school whose learners will be actively involved in the maintenance of the garden. Furthermore, the garden will provide organic material for the production of a fertilizer through wormy culture. The fertilizer is organic and is also a natural insect repellent that safeguards the plants from pest infestation.
The following will be implemented at the school:
- water management - water harvesting, irrigation, water conservation, water wise gardens
- waste management and composting - vermi-composting, composting kitchen waste, sheet mulching with used paper, etc.
- edible and medicinal gardens - fruit and nut orchards as well as plants and herbs with a traditional medicinal value, linking well into the curriculum
- school/community nursery - this helps bring community involvement as a "value" in the project.
- mother plant nursery - an area where plants can be propagated for school beautification, this can help build a sense of pride in the school again
Sanitation
This will involve the development of a grey water capturing system where water from hand wash basins is diverted to the toilets for flushing. These actions are also further strengthened by the Environmental Health Practitioners’ involvement in Health and Hygiene education to the children.
In addition, Biogas will be generated as part of the sanitation project. The system links to:
1) gardens - through an organic fertilizer as well as "taking" garden waste as a fuel stock
2) kitchens - provides gas for cooking
3) learning tool for natural science and technology
3.4 Government Employee Medical Scheme
GEMS will participate in the MPSA Mandela Day Celebration by providing different services to the community members which include cholesterol testing and massages to elderly people.
