Thusong Centre outreach week
Because it is Public Service Month, the Mossel Bay Thusong Service Centre scheduled its service delivery outreach week from 26 to 30 September.
The theme is Batho Pele Revitalisation – Walking the Talk.
Around the country, Thusong Centres have focused on service delivery this month.
Manager at the Mossel Bay Thusong Centre, Nomboniso Jika, confirmed that most of the activities planned during this jam-packed week, where 31 different stakeholders will be of service to the community, will seek to address economic and unemployment issues.
During the planning phase of the event, Jika committed herself to focus on rolling out services to rural areas this year.
Hence, transport is offered to bus residents into Mossel Bay to visit the Thusong Centre next week.
“The week will involve the development of a communication paradigm for putting the information needs of residents first, through facilitating face-to-face interaction among residents, government and stakeholders,” Jika said.
On Monday, 26 September, the focus will be on the opening event of the outreach, engaging stakeholders pledging their support with the executive mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, and the executive council members. Residents from three of the rural areas in the Greater Mossel Bay area, Buisplaas, Herbertsdale and Vleesbaai, will be the special guests on the day.
Jika confirmed that on 28 September, another group of rural residents - from Ruiterbos, Brandwag and Sonskynvallei will be accommodated at the centre. On 27 and 29 September, all local residents are welcome. “We urge residents who want to come to the outreach, but are physically challenged, to make use of the bus service we can provide.” The week ends in celebration on 30 September.
“Rural residents from Buisplaas, Herbertsdale, Vleesbaai, Toekoms, Jonkersberg and Klein Brak River will be helped to join us on this closing day.
"Because our focus is economic empowerment, we are also hosting a market, which I am so excited about,” said Jika.
Stalls are fully booked, Jika says, but interest parties can still add their names to a waiting list to be accommodated, should the opportunity arise.
The Thusong Centre is running a sewing project and these newly-trained seamstresses will be selling their work at the market under their label, Simply Spheff!
This project is in line with the Mossel Bay Municipality’s GROW strategy, specifically in terms of growing the economy as well as social regeneration.
For any information or assistance, contact Jika (044 606 5132, 076 142 3654 or njika@ mosselbay.gov.za).
The programme is available on Facebook – Mossel Bay Municipality.