Kganyago, MP, on the occasion of Long Service Awards ceremony,
Johannesburg
20 January 2006
The Regional Manager, Ms Hellen Elhaimer
All senior officials
Our beloved long-timers
Ladies and gentlemen
It is such an honour to stand in front of a group of people who epitomise
loyalty, steadfastness and commitment. This is even more remarkable when
contrasted with todayâs trends where it has become almost fashionable to job
hop, often driven by desire to make immediate material gains.
Without sounding critical or cynical, it is common experience particularly
among our young generation today to look for work and join organisations, all
for wrong reasons, such as instant promotions, big salaries and exquisite
fringe benefits â all expected within a short period of time without a
corresponding effort to consolidate oneâs experience, grow a body of knowledge,
contribute to growth and profitability and become a valuable asset to the life
of the organisation.
The result is that by the time some of them have spent, say, ten years in
the industry, chances are that theirs will be a fragmented experience, made up
of a collection of pockets of experiences which individually amount to nothing
much. This leads to a situation of having senior managers with junior
attitudes, leaders who can barely visualise the future nor analyze the present.
In short, unless curbed, this Kamikaze â type of job hopping has serious
consequences for the country, among others:
* Poor levels of productivity
* Unbridled culture of consumption
* Detrimental competition
* Loss of respect for leaders and professionals
* Stunted growth of skills
As leaders we will be failing the society and the country if we do not speak
out against this culture of instant gratifications. South Africa as a country
which has emerged from the ruins of apartheid, which nearly was destroyed by
apartheid, owes it to itself to double its inputs in order to rebuild the
political, social, economic and moral fabric of the society. We need to start
by promoting a strong work ethic as a foundation for a productive nation, if we
want to be competitive and prevail.
It is always depressing to see a successful young South African person,
wearing a Swiss jewellery, talking on a Swedish mobile phone, with a British
network, talking in an American accent, driving a German car and wearing the
latest Italian designer clothes and a French Perfume puffing a Cuban cigar,
seeping an Irish whisky, with a house full of Japanese an Korean electronic
appliances, with nothing but his ego bearing a badge: made in South Africa.
Unless we become productive and inventive, we as a nation will always be a
society of consumers, spurred by senseless pop culture and insensitive
advertising, both of which seem to be saying â it is ok to be useless.
On behalf of the Department, we like to salute men and women of steel,
people who have spent virtually their lifetime in the service of the public,
strengthening the machinery of government and sharpening the instincts of
responsive governance. The Department of Public Works is part of government and
as such has an obligation to improve public service and its deliverables.
Without happy, motivated and excited employees, that goal is not achievable,
hence we are here today to celebrate the life of pioneers, pathfinders, people
who have been there before us, to show the path and lead the way.
In November 2005, the Department launched the Service Delivery Improvement
Programme popularly known as SDIP. The Programme builds on the earlier one
called Leadership Way. Whereas Leadership Way appealed to our attitudes towards
our work, SDIP raises the bar further and call on all of us to do things
differently. We shall soon be coming to introduce the SDIP to you in
Johannesburg.
All this is part of an attempt on the side of the Department to build a
world-class Public Works, characterised by efficiency and competitiveness,
driven by passion and dedicated to client satisfaction. We are creating a
better environment for performance and delivery.
The upcoming Municipal Elections will test our maturity as public servants
to meet out quality services and products to the people of South Africa. We
appeal to you all to go and cast your vote. Apathy does not promote democracy.
A decision not to vote will not mean that service delivery will happen any
quicker.
Be a patriot and vote, with the knowledge that you will be an active part of
this countryâs history and that your children and their children will be
grateful to you that you voted. We are grateful to you that over the years, you
resisted apartheid, fought relentlessly against injustice meanwhile holding
together the fabric of public service delivery. We salute you as heroes.
For those already on pension or considering taking any soon, remember your
communities require your experience. Volunteer to assist and promote community
development through active participation. The skills you acquired and the
experience you gained should stand in good stead as you interact with your
community members. Like our former President, Mr Mandela, go on and become
beacons of hope to the masses.
At this juncture, I call upon the Regional Manager, Ms Hellen Elhaimer to
join me as we give awards to the long-timers.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Public Works
20 January 2006
Source: Department of Public Works (http://www.publicworks.gov.za/)
