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.
