Address by the Premier of Limpopo Mr Chupu Mathabatha on the occasion of the Provincial Batho-Pele Day Celebrations held at Ephraim Mogale Stadium, in Waterberg District Municipality
Programme director,
Our MECs who are present here,
Executive Mayor and mayors of our local municipalities, Traditional leadership,
Heads of our Provincial Departments, Members of the Media,
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good morning! Avuxeni, Thobela, Ndaa!
First and foremost, let me extend our appreciations for all of you for responding to our call to celebrate this important Batho Pele day with us.
I know that some of us whenever we see the phrase ‘Batho Pele’ we think of government job interviews.
Of course you can always expect that as a job seeker in government you will always be tested on your understanding of these important principles. This is because Batho Pele principles are such an important cornerstone of our public service administration.
Everyone in government is expected to eternalise these principles.
This is because Batho Pele principles are an initiative by our government which aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of government services by improving efficiency and accountability to the recipients of public goods and services.
It is indeed for this reason that you can never be admitted into the public service if you do not appreciate and identify with the value of these principles.
These principles are the life-blood of our public service; they guide how we do our job in government and how we interact with you as members of the public.
- The Batho Pele Principles exist so that we can be able to realise the following constitutional principles guiding the public service, that is:
- The promotion and maintenance of high standard of professional ethics;
- Ensuring that services are provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias;
- Ensuring that resources are utilised efficiently, economically and effectively;
- Ensuring that the public is encouraged to participate in policy-making; and that
- Public Service is accountable, transparent and development- oriented.
The motivating idea around Batho Pele principles is that those who are privileged to be part of our public service must at all material times ensure that they put our people first.
All government employees are public servants, their most fundamental duty is to serve you and not their personal interests.
It is for this reason that the government has put in place both legislative and institutional mechanisms to ensure that whenever a conflict of interest arises, a public servant should be able to excuse himself or herself so that the interest of the public is not compromised by a personal interest.
Those who fail to excuse themselves and proceed to work in a way that advances personal interest will continue and are indeed facing consequences for not putting people first.
We have also put other measures in place to ensure that members of the public who feel that they have not been treated in accordance with the dictates of Batho Pele are able to find necessary redress.
For as long as this government remain in power, our people will and should always come first.
Programme Director;
Part of what Batho Pele seeks to achieve is to ensure the transformation of Public Service.
By a transformed Public Service we mean the public service that will be effective in delivering services which meet the basic needs of the people.
In other words, the improvement of service delivery is the ultimate goal of the transformation of public service.
Batho Pele principles are also about ensuring that our people are consulted on everything that affects their wellbeing, that our people are serviced with the necessary respect and courtesy that they deserve.
A public servant who still treats members of the public with contempt does not belong to this public service.
Public servants are continuously reminded to leave the baggage of their personal problems at home so that they are able to give a welcoming smile to members of the public when serving them.
Batho Pele is also about ensuring that recipients of public services get quality value for their money.
This means that every cent must be used for an intended purpose.
Every single cent from the budget must be used for a budgeted purpose. Monies for houses must go to the building of quality houses; the same is with the money for roads, schools, clinics, so-forth-and-so-on.
We never budget for kickbacks or tjotjo, and therefore no single cent should be paid as a tjotjo or a kick-back.
Batho Pele principles demands that where we make mistakes as public representatives and officials, we must rectify such mistakes and offer necessary redress.
It is therefore important that these principles are not only known to public servants alone, all of us must acquaint ourselves with the Batho Pele Principles.
I said earlier that for some of you whenever the phrase Batho Pele is mentioned you are thinking about interviews.
But it is important to know that these principles remain far much important beyond just cramming them for an interview session.
A public servant who allows himself to forget these principles is more likely to find himself on the wrong side of the code of conduct of public service employees.
A member of the public who does not know these principles is more likely to be short-changed without even knowing that she is not getting the best deal she can get.
Indeed knowing these principles will ensure that you are not short-changed by public officials when they render service to you.
As members of the public, it is your duty to know what you are entitled to receive from the public service.
Programme Director;
This government is about service to the people.
It is for this reason that we have introduced a number of measures that are aimed at bringing services to the people.
Part of these measures includes our very successful Community Development Worker Programme and Ward Committees.
We have worked very hard to ensure that every ward has a designated CDW and a Ward Committee representative.
As members of the public you are reminded to work closely with both your CDWs and Ward Committees to address problems and challenges faced by your communities.
These structures remain important link between the people and the programmes of government designed to ensure access to essential services.
Programme Director,
Again as part of our efforts to take services to the people, our government is running a very effective public participation programme in a form of Exco Imbizos.
Just last weekend, we were at Belleschutte Village in Aganang Local Municipality as part of these Exco Imbizos.
During these Imbizos, as government we do less of talking and allow the people to do the talking, mostly about service delivery concerns in their areas.
We urge you as members of communities to take full advantage of platforms such as our Imbizos. You must always ensure that your voices are heard.
As I conclude, I know that it is now just a matter of weeks before we celebrate both the birth of Christ in a form of Christmas and later we will be welcoming a new year.
I therefore wish all of you a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
You are also invited to form part of the chain of events that marks our annual Mapungubwe Arts Festival.
However we must always remember to party and celebrate in a very responsible manner.
Those who drive must never forget to obey the rules of the road. Those who will chose to disregard the law will be dealt with without mercy.
Once again, I wish you a blessed festive season.
I thank you!
