Centre
24 March 2009
Premier Sogoni addressed a crowd of about 2 000 people on Friday 20 March at
Burgersdorp during the launch of the Thusong Services Centre. In his address
the Premier urged people of Gariep Municipality to make use of the centre as it
will not only provide the services but also all the necessary information that
might be needed for economic development in that area. Premier Sogoni announced
that there will be departments like Office of The Premier, Social Development,
Home Affairs, Health, South African Police Service (SAPS) and Government
Communication and Information System (GCIS) to provide services and information
about bursaries and entrepreneurship opportunities to at the centre. The
Premier also made mention of the tele-centre with computers and internet that
will assist students in research and school assignments.
Sogoni said: âI urge you to use all the facilities in the centre for things
that include job seeking and knowledge.â Sogoni said the government is
fulfilling its commitment of bringing services closer to the people.
âTravelling long distances to access government services will be something of
the past now, as you are going to get services in one building.â said Premier
Sogoni.
The Thusong Service Centres formerly known as (Multi Purpose Community
Centres) programme of government was initiated in 1999 to extend services of
government, in an integrated manner, closer to outlying areas where people
live. Primarily, the focus was on rural and under serviced communities, with
the aim of addressing the historical factors limiting citizens to access
government services and information. In 2005 Cabinet approved a strategy which
seeks to establish one Thusong Service Centre per local municipality by
2014.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
24 March 2009
Source: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
