by Simphiwe Mngomezulu
Thusong Service Centre Managers and Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) provincial teams from all corners of the country gathered on Tuesday in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality to learn best practices from the Thabong Service Centre.
The benchmarking programme was hosted by the National Inter-Sectoral Steering Committee (NISSC) which is the national coordination structure of the Thusong Service Centre Programme, chaired by the GCIS at national level.
The vibrant intergovernmental programme took place in the heart of the township at the Boitumelo Junction Mall.
During the event, the Thabong Service Centre was acknowledged as one of the most optimally and efficiently performing Thusong Service Centres in the country. It is also the second urban Thusong Centre to be located within a mall like the centre located at Maponya Mall in Gauteng.
The one-stop-shop provides information and integrated government services from various departments, including the Office of the Premier, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Social Development, Labour and Employment, GCIS and the local Councilor.
Lejweleputswa District Municipality Executive Mayor, Veronica Ntakumbana, attended the event and spoke about the importance of bringing services closer to the people.
According to Boitumelo Junction Mall marketing manager, Mampoi Mahasa, the centre services a low-income community that cannot afford to frequently travel to town to access government services.
“The availability of SASSA and the clinic in the centre has been of great help to the community,” said Mampoi.
The Thusong Service Centre programme was first launched in 1999. The Free State province currently has five operational Thusong Service Centers.
The NISSC: Thusong Service Centre programme will run over three days.
On Wednesday, the structure will host a meeting at Mangaung Municipality to provide feedback from the last meeting held in April 2023 and further outline new projects.
On 18 April 2024, the NISSC will host another integrated services outreach at Hoffman Square, in Bloemfontein Central which will be followed by the Annual Thusong Service Centre Awards.
The Awards will take place at the Floreat Hall, Bram Fischer Building, Mangaung Metro, in Bloemfontein. The event will be officiated by the Deputy Ministers in the Presidency and the Premier of the Free State, Mxolisi Dukwana. – SAnews.gov.za
