"Reviving the spirit of excellence"
Programme director
Members of the provincial legislature
Mayors and councillors
Head of Department, Me Morongoa Ramphele and management team
Mr D Mphalala, from the Centre for Public Service Innovation
Staff of the Department of Public Works
Ladies and gentlemen
Good evening
“Prosperity depends more on wanting what you have, than having what you want". This quote by Geoffrey Albert best captures the essence of tonight's event, honouring those who have given excellent service in pursuit of the mandate of the Department.
The long and short of the quote is: "let us be selfless in what we do, irrespective of what we do or how people regard what we do".
Today individuals and groups will go away with awards in the way of prize awarding ceremonies of the Premier Soccer League at each and every end of the season. Best clubs, best coaches; in fact the best of each category is honoured.
Recognition and celebration of service excellence is not the monopoly of the private sector. Service excellence cuts across every sector and category of society. We in government are not immune to service excellence.
Service excellence is required of us as it required for all who serve. We are in business too, and so do we have clients who want their needs to be satisfied. Our business is the public works mandate; our clients are sister departments to whom we render service.
In fact it was supposed to be our clients and our public, and not ourselves, passing judgement on the excellence of our service, as teams or as individuals.
The Constitution of the republic and subsequent policies and laws have put the people at the centre of the business of government; hence the Batho Pele principles. These policies enjoins government to the following:
- A high standard of professional ethics
- Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted
- A development oriented public service
- Impartial, fair and equitable provision of services
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Representation
It is against these principles that our ability to serve our public will be measured. These principles are our through the eye of the needle, to determine whether we are sinners or saints.
The public works function has a clear and unambiguous mandate:
- Provide building infrastructure to client departments
- Management provincial land and buildings
- Coordination and implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
This is what defines us, this is what differentiates us from other line functions. We are the Department of Public Works on the basis of this mandate. Whether we have excelled or not, will be determined on the basis of what we shall have done on our mandate.
To deliver on our mandate we have crafted both a vision and mission. I am not sure how many know or recall what the vision and mission of the department are.
To refresh our memories, our vision is to be: "a leader in the provision and management of provincial lands and buildings. Our mission: optimal utilisation of resources in the provision and management of provincial land and buildings, and the coordination of the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme.
We then have core values which should guide us as we go about the business of public works:
- Professionalism
- Humility
- Accessibility
- Adherence to Batho Pele principles
The sum total of all the elements I have mentioned, is the Department of Public. You remove one of them, you no longer have the department as it should be, or is expected to be.
May I emphasise that these are not mere slogans that we chant to impress; they are at the heart of Public Works. Service excellence can only emerge if we as individuals, teams and the whole department have internalised the elements which constitute our business as public works.
I am encouraged by the choice of theme for this year's awards ceremony: "Reviving the spirit of excellence". This is a pronouncement to all that beyond today, public works is the department to watch, the department to emulate.
Beyond today are the Premier's Excellence Awards, which will determine the best of the best in the whole province. We obviously will be fielding our best to battle it out with others for the available honours.
Isn't it about time that we are up there among other stars?
Tonight's awards ceremony should set us on a journey that will make us synonymous with excellence. We commend award winners, and encourage others to give of their best so that the Department of Public Works becomes the centre of service excellence. Let us bear in mind that: The greatest things are accomplished by individuals, not by committees or companies.
Re a soma.
I thank you.
Source: Department of Public Works, Limpopo Provincial Government
