KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) under the leadership of MEC Sipho Hlomuka, has scooped top awards at the national Thusong Centre Service Excellence Awards held in Cape Town last night.
The awards recognised top-performing Community Service Centres across the country. MEC Sipho Hlomuka congratulated his Department for this impressive showing, which saw it scoop a number of coveted awards, which include:
- Most improved province in the Thusong Roll Out.
- Outstanding Provincial Coordinator, which was won by Cogta employee Ms Bev Khanyile.
- The Biyela Thusong Centre which was built by the department won in the category of Outstanding Satellite.
The province also won in the following categories:
- The Mayor of uMshwathi Local Municipality was recognised for Special Contributions to the Thusong Programme
- Outstanding Semi-Rural Hub was won by Maphumulo Thusong Centre
- Outstanding Semi-Rural Hub – uMshwathi Thusong Centre (first runner-up)
- Outstanding Semi-Rural – Urban Hub; Archie Gumede Thusong Centre (winner)
“This impressive achievement is a reflection of the ethos KZN Cogta pursues when it comes to fulfilling its constitutional obligation to the citizens of the province. As a department, we took a decision to aggressively roll out these community service centres which bring government services closer to communities. Currently, we have over 30 of these centres in our rural communities,” said Hlomuka.
“As a department, we will continue to strive for excellence in our efforts to bring government services closer to our communities. Awards such as these motivate us to do more in the service of our communities,” said Hlomuka.