​Government working with communities and social partners countrywide, hosted the Annual Thusong Service Centre Weekfrom 18 - 22 September 2023.
This year's Thusong Service Centre Week was held under the theme, "Building a Professional Public Service for Quality Service Delivery."
In Gauteng, The Thusong Service Centre Week was held in Muldersdrift, West of Johannesburg, on Wednesday.
The Thusong Service Centre Week forms part of the Integrated Public Service Month, which aims to promote the value of Thusong Service Centres, which continue to offer communities access to services and information about opportunities to people like 18-year-old Beyonce Adams from Impumelelo Disabled, a protective workshop in Krugersdorp where she is getting skills on art (painting) and she said she learned a lot on the day (about government services).
"I came to this event because I wanted to be assisted by SASSA as I have not been getting my grant money since I moved in with my mother. I used to get my grant money when I was staying with my sister, but I'm not getting it anymore because my sister has my grant card", she said.
South Africans are encouraged to visit their nearest Thusong Service Centres to explore the array of services offered at their local centres. Like 74-year-old Richard Phuti from Honeydew informal settlement. Phuti said he was grateful that Home Affairs was there to assist with IDs. He said they are happy services have been brought to them as they are unemployed and taxis are expensive.
The Thusong Service Centre Program was initiated in 1999 to widen the reach of government services in an integrated manner.The Annual Thusong Service Centre Week was piloted in September 2014.
The campaign, which is in its ninth year, seeks to demonstrate and share how these centres continue to better the lives of communities.
During this year's campaign, the government consulted communities on how the centres can be improved, although government and various partners are making solid advances in tackling some of the operational challenges centres have faced.
The activities of the Thusong Service Week will profile the work of public servants, particularly front-line officials based at Thusong Service Centres and their contribution to the envisioned efficient Public Service, which is putting people first.
During this year's Thusong Service Centre week, mobile outreach activities have been planned to provide access to services and information closer to citizens.
Thusong Service Centres have made it easier for citizens to access ID documents, birth and marriage certificates, computer training, health services, and UIF applications. All citizens are invited to visit www.gcis.gov.za to locate the centre closest to them.