Official Newsletter for the Department of Public Works EPWP On delivery path LDPW delivers in Future Sikhunyani Imperfect going green a solution IDIP A solution to infrastructure delivery Public Works supports Bafana Bafana in the 2010 FIFA World Cup—KE NAKO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Re a šoma The heartland of southern Africa—development is about the people Editor’s Note CONTENTS 2010 the year of possibilities has finally arrived. In this New Year, we bring Phagadi, making government work 1 you a fresh, new look 32 pager Mishumo, filled with more exciting stories Deciding whether to outsource or insource 2 and information to keep you abreast of issues happening around you. We Public works HOD Speaks out 3 Cuban Technical Advisors helps community 4-5 are confident it will be a great read. Low power Transmitter reaches Indermark 6 Public Works creating employment through training 7 The year 2009 had its moments, some challenging, sad and others Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) on Delivery path 8 exciting… … That’s all in the past. Future imperfect... going green a solution 9 Now we celebrate the year 2010, a year which will undoubtedly go down in Department of Public Works going back to basics 10 the history of South Africa, as remarkable. In a few months, we will welcome What IDIP is all about 10-13 the world to our shores, as the host country of the biggest soccer spectacle in Here comes Santa works 13 the world, the FIFA world cup soccer tournament. 2009 events in pictures 14-15 Putting People First 16-17 We are not going to do things for you, but with you 18 It has been a long time coming, since the announcement of the host country Public Works delivers, in Sikhunyani 19-20 was made, a lot of hard work by government, parastatals, private sectors and Public works, celebrates African beauty 21 by individuals on the street has been done, to ensure the success of the Networking, a link to growth 22 tournament’s first time camp in Africa. Kamoso Recognition Awards 22-24 Meet SMS members 24-26 2010 also becomes a year in which the quality of our infrastructure in the Meet the District Shared Service Managers 27 country will be tested. This is not a matter which government wanted to leave MEC and HOD meets staff 28 to chance. Under the chairmanship of the Department of Public Works DPW Staff and Portfolio Committee 29 (DPW), is the newly enacted infrastructure cluster. The cluster coordinates the construction of roads, upgrading government Editor in chief facilities, provisioning of bulk services such as water, sanitation and Tendani Tshidavhu electricity.etc and reports progress on a quarterly basis. Editor The man and woman in charge of the political and the technical aspects of Nikiwe Shibambu the cluster respectively, are new additions to the family of Public Works, the honourable member of the Executive Council (MEC) Muthundinne George Reporters & photographers Phadagi and the Head Of department (HOD) Mme Morongwa Ramphele. Rosemary Mahapa Read their objectives and commitments. Patience Nkoana Happy Lekgothoane Jimmy Ramodike The two leaders join a team of executive and senior managers, whom we Elelwani Ramabulana have also showcased in this edition, so that you get to know those responsible for delivering service to you, as we strive for excellence. Contributors Speaking of excellence, a lot of good has come out from importing Cuban Maureen Seboko expertise. You would remember in February 2008, the department Michael Holford welcomed five Cuban Technical Advisers, to assist in project management. Union Representative Read how their stay with us is paying off as part of service delivery to the Printed by communities. Morgan's Copy Shop Tel: 015-295 8167 DPW is also making an impact through the Expanded Public Works Fax: 015-295 8168 Programme (EPWP), which is government’s initiative to eradicate poverty, Cell: 082 886 2855 skill the unskilled and reduce levels of unemployment in the country. Read about the achievements of Phase 2 and the exciting beautification Designed & Produced by programme in the pipeline. Communication services Department of public works Mishumo also brings you snippets from all EXCO outreach programmes, led For comments, complements or by premier Cassel Mathale, Letters write to the editor: We also bring you the story behind the elation that filled Sikhunyani village Email: outside Giyani, when MEC Phadagi visited the area. This was Public Works [email protected] at work, working for the communities, in line with its mandate. Happy reading! [email protected] 2010 Ke Nako Story on page 8 Story on page 18 Pa ge 1 O ff i c i a l N ews l ette r fo r t h e D e p a r t m e nt o f P u b l i c Wo r ks At the time of his appointment as MEC for Public Works, Phadagi had just completed a highly successful five year term as a member of PHADAGI, p a r l i a m e n t w h e r e a m o n g h i s m a n y responsibilities, he served in the portfolio committee on local government and provincial affairs. MAKING Prior to his deployment to Cape Town as a Member Of Parliament, MEC Phadagi had an equally successful tenure as Mayor of the now disestablished Thohoyandou transitional local GOVERNMENT council. His appointment as the executive authority of Public Works function gives him time and space to put to use what he has learnt over many years of WORK activism and leadership. Since his appointment last August, the MEC has traversed the length and breadth of the province in pursuit of the mandate of the Department of Public Works. His tour of the province included visits to all the five districts where he compared notes with foot soldiers of the department and recently to the Makhado local municipality as part of the government`s Quality Teaching and Learning Movement. MEC Phadagi`s mission during his tenure is simple and straight forward – make government work. This mission embodies the vision and mission of Public Works. From Left: Dr N Manzini (Director General), Hon. George Phadagi (MEC of Public Works) and Mr. Ray Malele (General Manager: EPWP ) ur MEC for Public Works George Muthundinne Phadagi was appointed to Othe position on 20 August 2009 by the Limpopo Premier,Mr Cassel Mathale. The appointment of MEC Phadagi was a sequel to the unfortunate and untimely demise of Mr Pandelani Ramagoma who had a short stint as MEC for Public Works. In announcing Phadagi`s appointment Premier Mathale described him as, “one of the comrades who fought alongside others of his generation to bring about freedom and democracy in South Africa.” MEC Phadagi is no stranger to leadership and governance. He held senior postings in the ruling party, local government and the national assembly. Capricorn District Staff welcoming MEC; Mr. George Phadagi Pa ge 2 O ff i c i a l N ews l ette r fo r t h e D e p a r t m e nt o f P u b l i c Wo r ks Deciding whether to outsource or Insource: Lessons learnt from the GTZ restructuring exercise From the pen of the Hon. MEC George Phadagi · Do everything possible to align the department with its core mandate. One of the striking findings I found upon arrival in the · That we elevate the core function of the department and Department of Public Works sometime last year was a state of shrink the support functions affair which one could only describe as challenging but not · That the deficiency of qualified technical staff in the exceptionally insurmountable. Upon reading the facts and department is quickly resolved. listening to stakeholders speak, alarm was raised to the fact that there was a real danger of the department veering off to · Also ensure that the technical staff is registered with oblivion if its mission is not clearly reasserted and well relevant professional bodies. articulated. One of the things picked up then, was the fact that · Ensure that all projects undertaken by the department are support functions in the department were beginning to EPWP compliant. overcrowd the core business functions. As a matter of fact, we had a situation where the core mandates of the department · Further ensure that monitoring and evaluation mechanisms could not gel and relate with the organisational structure as are in place. adopted and approved in 2004. · Address the challenge of poor image that the department is perceived as having. The coming into effect of legislative pieces such as · Ensure that all units and directorates enforce teamwork and Government Immovable Assets Management Act (GIAMA) desist from silo mentality. found no room and effect in the old organisational structure as · Reinforce our ageing workforce with younger blood to constituted since 2004. This posed a challenge to the manner sustain skills levels and productivity in which the department had to manage state assets. One other challenge noted at the time was the fact that District · And lastly, to generate a culture in the department where we offices where disjointed to the Head office structure. This celebrate hard work and the completion of finished projects. presented a great challenge to matters of accountability, synergy and the free flow of information. All of these say that there is more to organizational redesign than just the formulation of a new organogram. It is about A huge vacancy rate for technically qualified staff in the top issues of change management inasmuch as it has a lot to do executive was another big hurdle to climb.