PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAIL: MEC Nkosi and the team are seen here analyzing the approved architectural design which is being implemented as the project progresses towards the right direction

UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT: On Friday, 13 October 2023, the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Mr Sipho “KK” Nkosi visited Dlilanga High School in Ward 7, under the Mtubatuba Local Municipality, Umkhanyakude District. This is part of an ongoing Departmental service delivery monitoring programme, Operation Siyahlola.

The MEC as a political head at the helm of the Department engaged in a physical construction site tour to inspect the amount of progress made since the project was officially commissioned.

Supported by a team of technical experts, it emerged that, the project is moving towards the right direction.

Ageing infrastructure and dilapidated school buildings, will in no time, become history as the Department is working around the clock to ensure delivery of a new generational facility which will propel emergence of a conducive environment for proper Teaching and Learning.

Left: The MEC was captured here while making a progressive input during a stakeholders’ briefing session conducted at Dlilanga High School. Right: The construction site walkabout formed part of the day’s proceedings

To date, the project has seen construction of New Classrooms, a modern Kitchen, Administration Block, a Multi-Purpose Centre, installation of new borehole and water tank, an upgrade to ESKOM supply and line deviations and related amenities.

The government has injected more than R50 million in this particular project which commenced in April 2023 and is due for completion by July 2025.

At the beginning of the project there were some challenges that were experienced due to high water table encountered during excavations of foundations for the double story buildings or classrooms, the normal foundations had to be changed to pile foundation.

The above construction structure is currently sitting at the roof level while trench excavation work is in progress on the other side

Through the relevant Community Liaison Officer (CLO), 18 community members were employed under the umbrella of the Provincial Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which is in line with the upliftment of local community members.

Local businesses were appointed to be subcontractors for this big project as it will boost the local economy.

MEC Nkosi in his remarks applauded both the Department of Education for investing in rural communities by upgrading old school mud buildings that were built during the Apartheid era.  With this state-of-the-art school, the learners will be excelling in their studies. 

Article & Images by: Siyathuthuka Mthembu

Article by Bheki Khawula and Neliswa Nhlabathi

Content Editing by Bonginkosi Nhaca

SOUTHERN REGION: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works (DPW) on Thursday, 12 October 2023 hosted a Long Service Awards (LSA) ceremony to acknowledge normative commitment and also give full credit where it is due.  

The rationale behind the ceremony was to give recognition and also present a token of appreciation to specific devoted government employees, who have dedicated a substantial portion of their career, occupation and livelihood to the public service in general and the DPW’s Southern Region in particular.

This remarkable and historic event held at the Main Auditorium, Oliver Tambo House precinct in Pietermaritzburg, received a blessing from the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Sipho “KK” Nkosi.

When the MEC was approached for guidance, he did not hesitate to give a smart nod of approval as he swiftly stamped his authority by placing a signature of authentication to validate a batch of LSA Certificates which were presented to the relevant Departmental officials on the day.

For every movement, good or bad, there is a reward.  For every government official employed in the public sector to render service delivery to the public, there is remuneration.  For those employees who have served loyally for a long time, there is an exclusive ceremonial form of recognition.

The DPW’s Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services Mr Phiweyo Duma together with the Southern Regional Director, Ms Nokwanda Gcaba graced the occasion where various categories of staff representing their respective administrative centers - the Southern Region, Ugu, Harry Gwala and Umgungundlovu District Offices converged under one roof.

Mr Duma as a seasoned government technocrat, who boasts about four decades and a half mileage on his occupational clock, was the most befitting senior management representative to share his work related experience and give honors to long serving government officials.

“This ceremony is held to award those of us who have served the Public Works Southern Region for a long period of time, with loyalty and without a break. Those who have not yet reached the minimum of 10 years’ mark must know that this is only possible through dedication and commitment, narrated Ms Gcaba.

In addition, she said that, positions of responsibility, as different as they may be, play an important role in the quest for service delivery and she also emphasized on the importance of respect for one another especially in the workplace.

Mr Duma encouraged the awards recipients to always maintain a positive attitude and a winning mentality even when things are not going their way.

All recipients were urged to embrace fundamental ingredients for attainment of success ranging from a sense of duty, ability to engage others, leading by example and respect.

The Southern Region Long Service Awards ceremony catered for three specific categories stretching from Ten, Twenty and Thirty Years ‘Service, respectively.

Awards were presented to all recipients listed below with a specific number of years served by each recipient emblazoned on the Certificates:

Ten Years’ Service: Mendu MC, Meyiwa SO, Ndlovu SB, Duma ASN, Mkhize NP, Sibiya N, Jiji PP, Rajah N, Ndebele SZP, Ngcobo NN and Cekiso NP. 

Twenty Years’ Service: Dlamini SP, Mbatha PN and Zulu SM. 

Thirty Years’ Service: Ngcobo MA, Brits O, De Bruin GJ, Ngubane SD, Laas MA, Viljoen A, Mdluli SJ and Mdeppha IB.  Forty years’ service; Dlamini SP.

Towards the end of the programme, Mr Duma made a special request directed to all attendees, and by extension, the message is meant for the entire workforce within the Department.

“As I will be leaving the department in a few months’ time due to retirement, the best way to bid me a befitting goodbye is not reliant in all the glorious presents usually given to people as a farewell gesture. “I will physically run away from such,” he said.   

“The best present you can give me is to ensure that, in the near future, the Department of Public Works becomes a fully-fledged Implementing Agent of Choice. I have over the years accumulated vast work experience in the public sector of which twenty-six of those were spent with the DPW,” he concluded. 

Article by Sane Mbhense, Images Neli Mkhize and Sane Mbhense

 From left, Departmental Senior Management Service Members, Mr Bongani Dlamini, Ms Dudu Fihlela, Ms Xoli Ntanzi, Ms Andeleep Khan and Deputy Director-General (DDG) Corporate Services, Mr Phiweyo Duma handing over a Long Service (LSA) Certificate of Recognition to Ms Cebile Buthelezi. Right: Ms Shangana Changur receiving her Certificate from the DDG.

PIETERMARITZBURG: On Friday 20 October 2023, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works convened a Long Service Awards (LSA) ceremony to recognize contribution demonstrated by employees who have served in the Department for more than a decade.

The Departmental Human Resource Administration wing staged this ceremony to pave a way for the Management to extend gratitude to the relevant personnel who have worked for government continuously and distinctively for a period exceeding 10 years.  

Beneficiaries earmarked for receipt of LSA Certificates of Recognition were identified by virtue of a number of years served in the public service - sequenced from 10, 20, 30 and 40 years, respectively.  

Director, Internal Control, Mr Glen Sithole admirably directed the day’s proceedings attended by departmental officials representing different Directorates with dedication, loyalty and selflessness towards improvement of service delivery across all corners of the province.

The ceremony held at the Main Auditorium of the DPW’s headquarters enjoyed the company of the Deputy-Director General, Corporate Services Mr Phiweyo Duma, who strategically wooed the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Sipho “KK”Nkosi to give a thumbs-up gesture for realization of such an august occasion.

In his capacity as a well-experienced government Administrator, Mr Duma also played a crucial role during the programme when he presented certificates of recognition to the eligible staff members in attendance.

The level of excitement and joy demonstrated throughout the day will definitely last longer as all speakers extended their well wishes to those colleagues who received award certificates. 

One of the important highlights of the event was the honouring of Mr Duma who has served in the public service for 42 years. 

 Cheerful staff members brandishing their Long Service Certificates of Recognition

The Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Zamo Zwane who also received his long service award conveyed words of appreciation on behalf of all recipients. He indicated that, the recipients possess institutional memory and appealed to everyone that, this kind of an asset  should be passed on to others.

Rewarding loyalty and commitment to the department through long-service rewards is a vital recognition tool. The Department congratulates each and every recipient and thank them for being exemplary in order for future generations to pick up the baton.

ETHEKWINI: The first leg of a-three-day long Provincial Coordinators meeting convened under the banner of the National Youth Service (NYS) programme was held at the Natal Sharks Board in Durban on Wednesday 27 September 2023.

The above image was captured while the National Youth Service (NYS) Coordinator’s Meeting was underway in Durban.

The NYS beneficiaries together with programme Coordinators are seen here posing for a camera

Meetings of this nature are convened on a quarterly basis, spanning across all provinces in South Africa. 

Such engagements create a strategic platform for government departments to examine and oversee job creation interventions put in place through the NYS programme which is implemented by the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (NDPW&I).

The NYS programme forms part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) with its objectives deeply pinned behind creation of work opportunities and provision of training for the unemployed youth while consequently addressing the shortage of artisan skills in the built environment.

On the same wavelength, the programme also ensures active youth participation in community service and skills development.

As all provinces presented their progress reports, the KZN Department of Public Works' Chief Director - EPWP, Mr Bongani Dlamini urged all committee members to work extremely hard to combat the alarming rate of unemployment in the country. “As we are gathered here today, our goal is to be innovative in finding long lasting solutions on how to remedy the high levels of unemployment,” said Mr Dlamini.

On day two, the NYS Exit Framework was presented and discussed at length. On the final day a physical inspection of NYS active site at Ndwedwe 60km north of Durban was conducted on the construction of roadworks and earthworks and upgrade of Kwamanzamnyama River Bridge.

The NYS beneficiaries on site expressed their gratitude for the amount of skills they have gained under the programme.