Govt services brought closer to village
David Masango
16 July 2004
Days when communities of Qalabotjha village in the Free State travelled 120 km to access government services have come to an end, thanks to a one-stop service centre that has been established there.
Deputy President Jacob Zuma will officially launch the Qalabotjha Multi-Purpose Community Centre (MPCC) in Villiers in the Mafube Municipality on Tuesday.
The MPCC will offer people a wide range of services, including access to government departments and community projects.
Government departments that will have offices at the centre include Social Development and Home Affairs.
The services that will be available for the communities include registrations and payment of social grants, applications for birth registrations and identity documents and passports.
The MPCC will also house a clinic, a community hall, a telecentre sponsored by the Universal Service Agency and community projects including a bakery, a catering company, craft
facility doing bead- and wirework as well as sewing.
Qalabotjha will be the fourth MPCC to be launched in the Free State and the 58th in the country. It will serve the communities of Villiers, Frankfort, Cornelia and Tweeling.
"By the end of this year there will be 60 MPCCs across the country, proving one-stop centres to bring government services and information about services closer to where people live," according to the Government Communication and Information System, which is tasked to roll out these centres.
"By widening access to information, services and resources by both government and NGOs, the centres empower communities to improve their lives," said the GCIS.
The centre will also host or facilitate roadshows, campaigns, exhibitions and community participation events across the district.
It will also host Imbizos, used by government to boost communication with the public.
The GCIS said the Qalabotjha MPCC was the first to result
from a public-private partnership initiative.
It was made possible with the help from "Friends of Qalabotjha" under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Cheryl Gillwald.
"Friends of Qalabotjha" include the Nedbank Foundation, People's Bank, Telkom Foundation, Petroleum Ltd, Engen, Grinaker-LTA, Microsoft, Vuka Uzithathe, Decillion Development Foundation, Universal Service Agency, Uthingo and several government departments.
Zuma will be accompanied by Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff, Gillwald and the Mayor of Mafube Municipality Josi Ralebenya.
Source: BuaNews
| 
