The North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison’s public education campaign dubbed Operation Lemoga obtained bronze at the 2010 All Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards Ceremony in recognition of its effort to empower citizens throughinformation. The prestigious annuals award held at the Carnivore Gardens in Nairobi, Kenyaon Friday evening were announced at the closing of the 7th African Ministers of Public Service Conference.
The project improved compliance with regard to notification of change in motor vehicle ownership by reaching over 100 000 individuals since its inception in 2005 by the Public Safety Branch of the department.
The project was aimed at educating motorists and the general public about their responsibilities and obligations regarding registration and licensing of motor vehicles. Its success resulted in increased de-registered, i.e. scrapped, un-roadworthy and stolen motor vehicles which have saved thousands of motorist’s hard earned monies and huge arrears and debt.
Elated MEC Desbo Mohono says that the project has raised the bar and set the standard for people centered service delivery in line with Batho Pele “people-first” principles that needs to be sustained, emulated and surpassed by all other programmes within her department. It has benefitted mostly poor, illiterate individual, pensioners and widows.
“The project deserves the recognition for eliminating a lot of red tape. It went the extra-mile toreach people in various communities and providing them with valuable information. It assisted me wrap up my late husband’s estate.” asserts Mmabatho Mfikwe of Mahikeng. The name of the project is derived from a Setswana word “Lemoga” meaning “Be Aware”.
The initiative was informed by a debt of R340 million in arrears and penalties on motor vehicle licenses that had accrued to motorists due to non-payment of registration and licensing fees as a result of lack of information.
The first position for the Innovation in service delivery improvement category was scooped by the host country, Kenya followed by another South African project, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport which showcased its electronic learner bus project.
The North West Department of Health’s Kaizen at OPD Pharmacy from Job Shimankana Tabane Provincial Hospital in Rustenburg obtained second position in their category of the awards.
The Eastern Cape’s Chris Hani District Municipality emerged as the overall winner of the prestigious awards through its Blue Print for Rural Sustainability Project it had showcased. One hundred and thirty-six projects from across the continent had entered for the awards.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
