Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

3.5 BuIlDInG An EFFECTIvE AnD CARInGGovERnmEnTIn line with its commitment to build a democraticand developmental state, the Gauteng provincialgovernment has strived to be people-centred andresponsive to the needs of its citizens; effective andeffi cient in the utilisation of resources to the maximumbenefi t of the people; accountable and transparentin its actions and empowering residents with information.The provincial government has also taken cognisanceof the ten-year review of government followingthe fi rst decade of democracy, which pointed to theneed to improve the capacity of the state to acceleratedelivery and implement government programmes.Key challengesAmong the key challenges which the fi ve yearprogramme set out to address in improving servicedelivery to the people in the period to 2014 werethe following:• increasing pressure on the fi scus to deliverservices due to rising expectations and ongoingin-migration• citizens who are knowledgeable about theirrights and rightfully demand increasing quality ofservice provision, and that they are treated withdignity by the public service• new opportunities and ways of serving our peopledue to the ongoing revolution in ICT• the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic onthe public service, including the possible loss ofprofessional workers.Key commitmentsThe priority actions and programmes for the fi ve yearperiod from 2004 were to:• Provide all citizens with high quality, caring andintegrated government services. This criticallyincludes removing obstacles to effective servicedelivery, making sure services are sustainableand increasing the responsiveness of the publicsector to complaints and problems from citizens.We specifi cally commit ourselves to:• Increasing the commitment of public servants toBatho Pele• Developing a set of service standards so thatthe public know what level of service they canexpect• Speedily and effectively addressing requests forassistance or complaints from citizens as well asallegations of ill-treatment by public servants ofmembers of the public. Citizens will no longerbe pushed from pillar to post nor wait for longperiods of time before being assisted.These commitments will be made possible through:• Increasing the use of technology, including rollingout of electronic government services• Reducing ‘red-tape’ in accessing governmentservices• Co-ordination and integration of services betweennational, provincial and local levels ofgovernment.• Rolling out of Multi-Purpose Community Centresand community development workers.• Build the capacity of the public service includingthrough:– A comprehensive skills development programmeincluding learnerships and formanagers and staff on the frontline ofservice delivery– Performance management of public servants– Strengthening our HIV/AIDS workplaceprogrammes– Improving the representivity of the publicservice especially of black people, womenand people with disabilities at managerialand professional levels and– Improved planning and budgeting, monitoringand evaluation.• Make government accessible through:– Ensuring accessible information about governmentservices– Strengthening communication with ourpeople– Strengthening redress or complaints mechanismsand• Use government resources in a prudent yet innovativemanner to achieve maximum impact.• Implement our anti-corruption strategy andcontinue to demonstrate zero-tolerance towardsfraud and corruption.• Co-ordinate the management of public buildingsand the development of a government precinctfor those GPG buildings located in the Johannesburgcentral business district.• Work with local government to support the transformationprocess currently underway for it to effectivelydeliver services and play an increasingMidterm Report - 2004/06 •