With the R245.181 billion budget allocation for administration, Barry sets her sights on change, growth and service delivery improvement. In a bid to beef up her Department’s delivery, Transport MEC, Ghishma Barry told the provincial legislature that she is focusing on creative methods to improve service delivery.
“We have continued to grant best performing students with excellent marks in maths and science bursaries in transportation related studies. In this academic year (January to December 2010), 45 new bursaries have been allocated at a cost of R2.250 million with 15 for internal staff to improve their capacity and 30 for external people in areas such as civil engineering, railway engineering, freight logistics, human resource management and information technology (IT),” said Barry.
She added that: “In that regard, we have introduced the Service Delivery Excellence programme (SDEP or Balasela). Using the programme, the department has determined its service delivery index (SDIX). Through this programme, we have responsibility to ensure realisation of one of the important priorities, which is to build a developmental state and to improve the public services.
As a result, in February 2009, the department received the Premier’s Balasela award for ‘successful implementation of the Balasela programme’. In November 2009, the department won the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) award for ‘innovation enhancement of internal systems within government’. The CPSI award was awarded to the department by the Minister for Public Service and Administration”.
Barry added that her department hosted a Performance Management and Development System week recently, which marked a turning point in the supervision and enhancement of performance of employees.
However, the department is simultaneously sharpening and reviewing the supply chain management (SCM) protocols in line with government prescripts to focus on the improvement and benefit of the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the Eastern province.
“We remain committed to improve on our revenue collection as we intend to achieve 100 percent of our target amounting to R346 million, as we have done so in the past. The R346 million includes an increase in motor vehicle license fees amounting to an average of 10 percent as was gazetted In January 2010 to take effect from 1 April 2010,” said Barry.
Expects and politicians have over the years outlined the role of communication in service delivery programs of government. Barry says, as part of implementing our five years communication strategy, the 2009/10 financial year saw a great improvement in the interaction between the department, its stakeholders and the communities at large through the introduction of our quarterly exhibitions programme, which brought our services closer to the people, especially in the rural areas.
“Through this initiative, we opened up the Department for public relations intimacy with the people of the province in their various sectors. This exercise has further helped to market our customer care centre services and has contributed to the increase of received calls, which totalled to 24 538 enquiries in the past three quarters.
You are reminded of our toll-free number 0800 644 644,” said Barry adding that they have made indelible advances with regard to the promotion of the Constitutional rights of people with disabilities and held workshops on anti-child trafficking, elderly rights and road safety, promotion of sign language and disability friendly public transport system.
Building a skills and human resources base
According to Barry, last year, the department was able to enhance strategic partnership with institutions of higher learning and enrolled unemployed matriculants in partnership with the North West University in areas of road safety (20), and in partnership with the University Of Fort Hare in human resource management (40).
“Our maths and science projects are showing great value as a number of grade 12 learners from these projects have enrolled for civil and mechanical engineering studies. Every year, we maintain 700 scholars with the assistance from our partners, Engen.
Annually, we participate in the Cell C initiative of “Take a girl-child to work” and we brought 20 girl children to the department to enhance their understanding of transportation as a career of choice,” she said.
Source: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
