Thusong Service Centres Need To Be More Connected To Their Communities

Department of Communications -

The Thusong Service Centre (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Community Centres — MPCCs) programme of government was initiated in 1999 as one of the primary vehicles for the implementation of development communication and information and to integrate government services into primarily rural communities. 

This was done to address historical, social and economic factors, which limited access to information, services and participation by citizens, as they had to travel long distances to access these services.

Thusong Service Centres are one-stop, integrated community development centres, with community participation and services relevant to people’s needs. They aim to empower the poor and disadvantaged through access to information, services and resources from government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), parastatals, business, etc. enabling them to engage in government programmes for the improvement of their lives.

Government’s vision for Thusong Service Centres is to provide every South African citizen with access to information and services within their place of residence and in each local municipality by 2014 with the purpose of improving the quality of their lives through integrated service delivery.

By the end of March 2012, 171 Thusong Service Centres were in operation, making a crucial contribution to the expansion of infrastructure for access to information and services that citizens can use. 

Typical services found in these centres include those from the departments of Home Affairs, Labour, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Social Development, Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS), and the department of Health as well as telecentres, the Post Office, libraries, agricultural extension offices and municipal services. Community Development Workers, the South African Police Service, NGOs and community-based organisations, also offer services through the centres.

Thusong Service Centre Partners

Harnessing the energy of partners is key to the programme

Building partnerships is a major focus of the Thusong Service Centre programme. Strong partnerships guarantee sustainable and effective service delivery at Thusong Service Centres. Partners support all aspects of the programme, from funding to enhancing the services provided.

Although the programme is driven by government, Thusong Service Centres are ideal platforms from which businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can offer their services and reach a wide sector of the market.

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Partners at Thusong Service Centres are:

• service providers (government, civil society and private sector)
• government strategic planners/policy-makers (national, provincial and municipal)
• local communities benefiting from Thusong Service Centres
• development agencies
• parastatals
• funding partners

Participation and firm commitment are integral to the Thusong Service Centre programme. Consequently, partners have the following critical roles to play:

• Political spheres: Influencing efficient service delivery and participatory partnership
• National, provincial and local government: Strategic planners implement the programme, line departments ensure service delivery
• Parastatals: Critical to infrastructural process
• Civil society, community-based organisations and NGOs: Providing services and resources
• Private sector: Providing services and contributing broader resources.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) provides overall co-ordination and support, reporting to the Governance and Administration Cluster and Cabinet Committee. Other government partners and roles are listed below:

Partners in national government

• National Treasury
  • Funding options and strategy
  • Alignment of funding
  • Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy for Thusong Service Centres
  • Technical assistance with business planning
• Department of Provincial and Local Government
  • Co-ordination at provincial, local and district level
  • Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG)
  • Alignment of Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy/Urban Renewal Programme with Thusong Service Centres
• Department of Public Service and Administration
  • E-government strategy through E-Gateway Portal
  • Legislation re: access strategy, service level agreements, human resources
  • Community Development Workers’ alignment strategy
  • Thusong Service Centre co-ordination
• Department of Public Works
  • Infrastructure advice and roll-out
  • Lease agreements at centres
• Department of Trade and Industry - Local Economic Development co-ordinators
  • Provision of economic opportunity projects and programmes
• Departments of Home Affairs, Social Development, Labour, Agriculture, and Minerals and Energy
  • Roll-out alignment (budgets and infrastructure)
  • Service delivery plan at provincial and district levels
  • Resource deployment plan at district level (human resources and tools)
  • Reporting to national co-ordinator

Partners in provincial and local government

• Premier’s offices
  • Co-ordination and governance at provincial level
  • Co-ordinate establishment and management of PPP at provincial level
  • Alignment with provincial growth and development summits
  • Report to national co-ordinators
  • Development of proper structures and systems, service level agreements, monitoring, evaluation and support of the programme
• South African Local Government Association
  • Co-ordination of district and local municipalities
• District and local municipalities
  • Co-ordination and governance of implementation at district and municipal levels
  • Provision of centre management and staff
  • Alignment with integrated development plans
  • Development and implementation of district and local promotional and marketing plans

Other partners

• Department of Communications, South African Post Office, Sentech, National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, Telkom
  • Information and communications (ICT) strategy
  • Community radio stations
  • Public Information Terminals (PiTs)
  • Contribute to intersectoral steering committees
• Universal Service Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)
  • ICT strategy
  • Establishment of telecentres
• State Information Technology Agency
  • ICT strategy
  • Connectivity
• South African Management Development Institute (SAMDI)
  • Capacity-building strategy

Many other government departments (national and provincial), NGOs and private-sector stakeholders support this programme as it intensifies. Partnership in the programme is worthwhile because:

• information needs of citizens are placed first in the communication process
• people are empowered through participation
• development is based on consultation and strong networks at community level
• a wide-level commitment is followed rather than a top-down process
• you find improved access to services
• there is face-to-face interaction between government and the people
• the centre model suits community needs: hubs for large centres, satellites for smaller centres and mobile units for vast/inaccessible geographic areas.

SOURCE: Department of  Communications (South Africa)

South Africa's Educational Dream Rising

BUSINESS DAY

National / Education

SA to embark on a further education revolution

BY THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA, JULY 07 2015, 17:11

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Picture: THINKSTOCK

THE South African government seems to be going on an all out educational revolution. Last week‚ the government revealed it intended to provide education to about 12-million adults and youth with a qualification lower than a Grade 9 (formerly standard 7) by opening Community Education and Training Colleges (CETC).

According to the national policy on CETC‚ published in the Government Gazette on Friday‚ "The CETC are intended to provide ‘second-chance learning opportunities for out-of-school youth and adults’."

The intention is for these institutions to provide education and training for those unable to get into universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges (TVTC).

Meanwhile‚ according to the FET Colleges website‚ the South African education system is administered by the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training. The Department of Basic Education‚ administers school education from Grade R to Grade 12‚ while the Department of Higher Education and Training administers post-school education and training.

Post-school education and training includes universities and private higher education institutions‚ TVET colleges and private colleges‚ soon to be established community colleges‚ Sector Education and Training Authorities‚ regulatory bodies such as the South African Qualifications Authority‚ and quality councils.

Technical and vocational education and training comprises vocational‚ occupational and artisan education‚ and training as offered by TVET colleges.

Also revealed was that the programmes on offer would be determined by community needs and the needs of the state.

"They will include early childhood development‚ entrepreneurship‚ motor mechanics‚ plumbing‚ construction‚ carpentry‚ electricity‚ welding and auto body repair‚" government communications said.

One such college will be established as a pilot project in each province but with no timelines given as yet. In the short-to medium term‚ they are to operate out of schools‚ vocational education colleges and faith-based organisations.

RDM News Wire

LINK: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/education/2015/07/07/sa-to-embark-on-a-further-education-revolution

Access to low-income houses made easy by moladi

Access to low-income houses made easy by moladi in Africa

low-income houses in Africa 

Access to low-income houses in Africa made easy by Moladi

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa on March 11, 2013 in General News

Moladi, a South African based company established in 1986, makes housing accessible to low-income people through innovative and eco-friendly technology.

Decent housing is one of the key factors in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. It is not just about putting a roof over someone’s head – development experts attest.

Academic research proves that access to a clean and stable home implicates an improvement in security, health and education.

The Moladi system consists of a reusable and recyclable plastic formwork mould, which is filled with stone-less concrete and a special chemical additive. This additive ensures that, once the mortar is set, the formwork can be removed – and reused up to 50 times.

According to founder Hennie Botes, the brickless walls can withstand all types of weather. The formwork is lightweight allowing easy transportation. Due to the simplicity in design and the repetitive application scheme, construction costs can be reduced significantly.

The Moladi model is not only cost-effective but fast too. Botes further commented that the wall structure of a house can be completed within one day. A further plus point, especially in remote areas, is that the construction does not require heavy machinery or electricity.

With the motto “Train the unemployed to build for the homeless”, Moladi combines construction with economic development. The company also offers training locally for the unemployed thereby creating jobs and empowering the community as a whole.

Due to the simplicity of the approach, construction techniques and skills can be transferred in a short time. In this way, the communities benefit from affordable shelter and skilled entrepreneurs (in the area of low-cost housing) at the same time.

Moladi’s success in over 20 countries shows that affordable housing is an important key in finding solutions to promoting security and alleviating poverty.



Affordable Housing Production System - moladi

For more information on Access to low-income houses made easy by moladi - visit www.moladi.net

Keywords - moladi, Access to low-income houses made easy, low-income housing, Africa, affordable housing, Hennie Botes, formwork, building system, construction techniques, entrepreneurs

SOURCE: http://moladi.blogspot.co.za/2013/03/access-to-low-income-houses-made-easy.html

Posted 12th March 2013 by Moladi Formwork

Labels: Access to low-income houses made easy affordable housing africa building system construction techniquesentrepreneurs formwork hennie botes Low-Income housing moladi

  

Buy Back South Africa, save and create jobs

 20 November 2013

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Rob Davies, minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, launching the Buy Back South Africa campaign in Sandton on Tuesday 20 November.
(Image: DTI)

MEDIA CONTACTS
• Sidwell Medupe, spokesperson
Department of Trade and Industry
+27 12 394 1650
+27 79 492 1774

Mary Alexander

South African consumers and procurement managers at large companies are being urged to fight back against cheap, subsidised imports and help create and save more jobs by buying locally produced manufactured goods, in a new campaign, Buy Back SA, launched by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies on Tuesday 19 November.

The 2008 global crisis hit South African manufacturing hard, and cost the country round 300 000 jobs. In the last few years South Africa has suffered the double whammy of substantially reduced external demand for products and fierce competition from other manufacturing countries. Difficult economic conditions in the US and Europe – South Africa’s principal export markets – have been a severe knock for local manufacturers.

The Buy Back SA campaign, announced at the Industrial Development Corporation offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, has been funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Manufacturing Circle, Absa and Proudly South African. 

A key part of the venture is a video featuring veteran South African actor John Kani urging support of localisation and the manufacturing sector, which will be aired on national television.

Watch the Buy Back SA campaign advert:

The ad was paid for by both the government and private sector. “This is a clear sign of the close working relationship that is in the process of being built between government and industry, and one that we think can be strengthened and deepened in a number of ways,” Davies said.

Festive season spending

“We are launching the first phase of this campaign before the festive season because we want to impress upon consumers and stakeholders in the private and public sectors the importance of buying locally manufactured goods and products,” Davies said.

South African manufacturers, he said, made products of good quality, available at reasonable prices.

“We want to encourage people to buy these products because this has significance in terms of job creation, revenue generation and service delivery improvement.”

The South African government has developed a number of policy instruments to support localisation, the minister said. These include local sectors and products – including clothing and textiles, buses, rolling stock and power pylons – the DTI has designated for government procurement under the Preferential Public Procurement Finance Act.

“We have also reviewed and put in place a new policy framework for the National Industrial Participation Programme to oblige overseas companies that have benefitted from state contracts above $10-million to invest a percentage of the contract directly into the productive sectors of the economy, wherever possible in the sector in which they are involved,” Davies said.

Company procurement is key

The minister said buying local is not only for consumers.

“It is also crucially about companies – especially large retailers with large procurement budgets and supply chains – supporting local manufacturers – not only because this is in the national interest but because there are very often sound commercial reasons for doing so related to total cost of ownership: after-sales service, quick response, security of supply, niche product requirements, quality assurance and so forth.”

The Manufacturing Circle represents many big South African manufacturing concerns. About 80% of the country's manufacturers procure some 40% of their input locally. Coenraad Bezuidenhout, executive director of the body, said at the campaign launch that South Africans had stopped giving preference to local goods.

“For manufacturers, the last couple of years have been quite difficult,” he said.

After the Manufacturing Circle, Proudly South African and Absa bank contributed the initial funding, Buy Back SA will now need another R12-million to continue the campaign.

"I want to appeal to the private sector," Davies said. "We need to expand this campaign." He invited companies to register by emailing info@buybacksa.co.za.

International precedent

Davies said the Buy Back SA campaign, while a government initiative, was not inappropriate for a free market economy.

In the US, the Buy America campaign was an integral part of efforts to rebuild that country's economy after the 2008 crisis. A close partnership between the government, private sector and further education institutions, Buy America was also an effort to save and create jobs.

“The US economy has reportedly created 500 000 new high-quality jobs in the manufacturing sector since 2010, with 50 000 of these directly attributable to those efforts,” Davies said.

International and local competition

Many African countries are rich in commodities, but development is held back by an inability to turn those commodities into manufactured goods. The more resources countries take out of the ground and export, unprocessed, to foreign buyers, the more intrinsic capital is lost.

Manufacturing creates jobs and skills, and established manufacturing industries create a base of skills, capital and production infrastructure that can cushion country against the often irrational shocks inflicted by the global economy.

Other than the 2008 meltdown, the over-valuation and volatility of the rand has also undermined South Africa’s manufacturing competitiveness, as have higher electricity, transport and labour costs, and strike action.

Manufacturing has also suffered from local competition. Over the past two decades, the sector’s contribution to the South African economy has been gradually eroded by other industries, particularly the services sector. In 1994, manufacturing’s contribution to GDP at market prices was 20.9%. In 2012 it was 12.4%.

Read more: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/economy/3561-buy-back-south-africa-save-and-create-jobs#ixzz3r5N1IItY

SA Needs To Rebuild the Proudly South African Brand

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

South Africa should strongly consider reviving the Proudly South African (PSA) campaign.

The PSA Campaign was born out of socio-economic necessity to create jobs, under the leadership of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

And through the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), the campaign was officially launched in 2001.

To give it the strength it needed , the PSA campaign was from the on set supported by national government, organised Business (BUSA), organised labour and organised Community.
In over a space of just over a year, by January 2003 the campaign had generated so much attention and had become a highly visible brand.

It was seen on the CDs released by the Soweto String Quartet, Judith Sephuma and Vusi Mahlasela.

Fundamentally, PSA is an endorsement brand that signifies a particular company, service or product has met a set of criteria relating to local content, fair labour practices and environmental responsibility.

The founder and now former CEO of PSA, Martin Feinstein had said at the time, the emphasis is on protecting and creating jobs.

``The more South African-made products we buy, the more we stimulate local production and this will help create the conditions for producers to need more workers.''

At it's inception in the late 1990s, PSA was just a twinkle in the eye of the trade union movement, which proposed at the 1998 presidential jobs summit that a ``buy South African campaign might help to stimulate demand, production and employment''.

In 2000, a Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council) task team investigated the idea. The results of the task team's research assisted decisions on disputed issues and showed how the campaign could work.

Research was then conducted among consumers. The name of the campaign came directly from consumer respondents.

According to PSA, more than half said they'd support local products as they were proud of being South African.

Three quarters said they'd find it encouraging if, when buying a product, they knew it would create jobs.

The campaign board was set up to include leaders from the social partners to ensure everyone shared the same vision and to see the benefits of such a message.

Futhermore, the board then consisted of former SA Chamber of Business CEO, Kevin Wakeford, Cosatu president Willy Madisha, trade and industry director-general Alistair Ruiters and chairperson Tim Modise, a TV and radio personality.

The logo was unveiled in October 2001. By the end of the year a communications campaign had kicked off. Billboards began appearing countrywide, while a print campaign promised the logo would be ``appearing soon on SA's finest''.

A children's road show campaign, featuring Simba the lion was met with enthusiasm in schools across the country.

The next phase in the TV advertising campaign involved the now late Baby Jake, Ruda Landman, Steve Hofmeyr, Zola, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and other sporting and TV personalities explaining the campaign and why they support it.

Furthermore, there are three reasons why manufacturers and marketers would take PSA seriously.

Firstly, there is a promising trend towards tender preference for PSA member companies. A task team was set up at Nedlac to investigate how this can be put into practice in public and private sectors.

The national and provincial departments of education became the first government departments to commit to tender preference.

Secondly, the buy-in of retailers such as Pick 'n Pay means FMCG products which have PSA status will be differentiated at the point of sale.

Thus products which actively leverage and promote their Proudly South Africanness will have a distinct advantage.

Remarkably, I&J was officially the first company with consumer products bearing the logo.

And, thirdly, the PSA campaign was to invest more than R80 million over the next three years (from 2003 onwards) in building the brand. This was accomplished.

PSA also attests, "When a consumer sees the symbol on a product they will feel good about making a personal contribution to building a better country."

The brand values of PSA pride, quality and integrity are not unique but this non-commercial brand can strike an emotional chord with every South African in a way that helps to promote local products.

In 2003 Feinstein had commented, ``We've spent the last eight years focusing on making a new country. Now it's time to focus on what our country makes.''

Needless to say, the PSA campaign has taken a dip. 

Not much is reported on its activities and events. Even the newspapers that posted its logo on the front pages, many in not all of them of them no longer have the PSA logo let around cover the successes or failers of the campaign.

For what ever reason or reasons, the campaign has simply failed to get much commentary and in many quarters it is as good as dead.

Nedlac, is supposed to be a forum where government meets with organized business, organized labor and organized community groupings on a national level to discuss and try to reach consensus on issues of social and economic policy. The aim being to put meat into the phrase "social dialogue".

This appears to what has gone wrong with the campaign. A forum like Nedlac could have also played a bigger role in the execution and implementation of the PSA campaigns programmes, projects and policies.

South African need to remember that the PSA  "buy local" campaign calls on the nation to buy local products, make use of local services, with the mission of stimulating the local economy and helping with job creation.

According Proudly SA, the campaign further promotes national pride, patriotism and social cohesion. This makes a lot of sense with the racism the country is still confronted with.

As Leslie Sedibe, Proudly South African CEO says: “Every single product purchased affects a South African family somewhere and by buying Proudly SA, consumers and business are making a personal contribution to nation- building” Buy local this festive season and create jobs.

Crucially, this campaign is one we need to take seriously in the face of growing unemployment and economic inequalities bedeviling South Africa today.

At whose pace does black economic empowerment participation take place? - BEEInfoSTRIP

At whose pace does black economic empowerment participation take place? Government and big Business commands the pace of black economic empowerment and  not the masses. ...so where does this process leave you? The ultimate aim of the BEEInfoSTRIP™ project is to link you to the BEE System and  thus create the "active citizen". You will become the much needed “active public”  component in the process of the BEE system via the BEEInfoSTRIP™ Tool link. With  this Tool, you will 1) be the reason for the transparency of BEE information  and business relationships to 2) Actively facilitate opportunity within the supply  chain through the daily reporting of BEE real-time information to all consumers and  employees. This stimulates business and jobs, 3) Promoting and ensuring the  integrity (whistle-blowers) of the BEE system through continual public observation of businesses as to their adherence to the best practice principles of BEE. Our Government is based on the "will" of the people, thus the BEEInfoSTRIP™ Tool is to be a Government implemented public service for the inclusion, interaction and  participation of all citizens in the BEE system. The Tool’s individual information  reports printed on receipts, invoices, et cetera will be monitored and checked  by the millions of created "active citizens" for accuracy. Fraudulent information will  be traced from the point of sale along the supply chain including BEE verification  agents; this real-time reporting tool would be read and easily understood by all. The BEEInfoSTRIP™ Public Monitor will report on what is already in process  with regard to verification of companies and compliance certification by government  affiliates. The compliance status of companies would become common public information,  ensuring a system that is monitored, audited, investigated and questioned by one or  many citizens on a daily basis for accuracy.

The BEEInfoSTRIP™ is a voice for public opinion, and a tool for business transparency. The BEEInfoSTRIP™ believes that the core of integrity and political respect for people  needs to be challenged. Many businesses boast impeccable values, the BEEInfoSTRIP™  provides the public with an instrument to measure business BEE values. A Fair, Honest, Transparent and Equitable approach is maintained by the BEEInfoSTRIP™. The BEEInfoSTRIP™ is a building block toward UNITING businesses. What is your opinion?

- send us an email.

For more information visit: www.beeinfostrip.co.za

Kagiso Trust: 30 Celebrating Years of Service

Kagiso [meaning Peace] Trust was established in May 1985 as a mechanism to channel funds, which would promote the struggle against apartheid as well as uplift and empower communities deprived by the system.

Its contributions to, and hands on involvement in a wide range of projects have allowed Kagiso Trust to make a real difference to the lives of many thousands of South Africans.

Kagiso Trust Investments (KTI), which was born out of Kagiso Trust in 1993, has set the organisation apart from many NGOs in that it serves as a means of generating sustainable income for the future.

The trustees believe that education is the key to the future growth and development of South Africa. To this end, it has developed a pioneering programme, named after one of the founding patrons, Dr Beyers Naudé, who played an active role in the growth of the Trust.

The outlook for the future is promising. As an organisation with a solid foundation and the ongoing dedication of the people who support it, Kagiso Trust looks forward to increased involvement from those who share the dream of making a difference to South Africans.

Our Business

The long history of Kagiso Trust (KT) is entrenched in building sustainable partnerships for poverty eradication. For over 20 years, KT has worked with South Africans to achieve a society which offers liberty, justice and freedom from poverty.

The core business of KT is empowering poor marginalized South Africans so as to affirm their place and participation in the larger social institution. KT pursues an organizational development strategy that seeks to maximize its unique strength of relating to ordinary people, particularly in rural communities, as well as its considerable experience in development facilitation to identify sustainable solutions towards poverty eradication.

Our Philosophy

Integrity
We shall at all times, endeavour to uphold our integrity both as individuals and as an organisation, as we realize that this principle is the value upon which all others are founded.

Accountability
We shall be accountable and take ownership of matters for which we are responsible. We shall practice self-evaluation, continually reviewing ourselves, our actions as well as attitudes, whilst carrying out our functions with a strong sense of commitment.

Passion for Development
We shall at all times ensure that we maintain our basic passion for working towards achieving our vision and mission.

A hands on, bottom up approach
We shall do whatever is necessary to achieve our mission; understanding that this may often require us having to get our ‘hands dirty’ in doing the necessary, practical tasks that may be required in any given instance.

Organisation Overview

Also Visit: http://kagiso.co.za/