PUBLIC SERVICE MODELS PRESENT TO IMPUMELELO ADJUDICATORS

After an exhaustive national search, 31 projects presented to a panel of adjudicators hoping that they would be considered for either a platinum, gold or silver award from Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust in March 2007.

The awards, now in its seventh year are a measure of public sector innovation in a wide variety of sectors such as infrastructure development to arts programmes and ARV projects. “Those that were short listed this year seem to be of a very high quality”, remarked Kadalie.

Various models of government-initiated projects were on display. Examples included, Metropolitan Gateways Project in Port Elizabeth, a public-private partnership between the Nelson Mandela Municipality, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Afri-Coast Engineers is an example of different tiers of government working together to beautify public spaces. On the other hand projects such as the e’Thekwini Water and Sanitation Debt Relief Programme demonstrate that local government can play a solitary hand in devising solutions that could be considered best practice nationally. Not to be outdone, the Provincial Government in the North West province will be presenting their Modimola EPWP Project, which has at the core of its mandate the maintenance of roads.

“There is no need for protests about sanitation and water delivery. Impumelelo can point to a number of exceptional models in these sectors, that if replicated, will substantially improve the political landscape of South Africa”

NGO and civil society organisations not constrained by the bureaucracy of civil service have taken the opportunity to submit what on the surface seem to be really creative submissions including Dance for All, a well known Cape Town dance company that has trained many world-class ballet dancers from Cape Town’s poorest townships to Ithubalethu – “Our Chance” Point Community Court in Durban and CANSA’s Katleho Interim Home in Bloemfontein.

According to Kadalie, “It remains to be seen if these projects stand up to the rigors of the adjudication process where they will have been interrogated even further.” Kadalie is adamant that the adjudication process be tough but fair. “We want the absolute best so that these examples can serve as models for other public managers to replicate them in other areas of the country.”

“This is what makes us stand out from other award programmes”

“President Mbeki is right when he called for increased integration between the tiers of government. The projects, which ultimately win the top Impumelelo awards, are those that demonstrate exactly that. But more importantly our award winners form the basis of projects that will underpin best practice in the public sector. One of our award winners has already won a United Nations Best practice award – and we found them first”, concludes Kadalie.

ENDS
For further information please contact:
Rhoda Kadalie – +27 21 461 3783

About Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust:
Impumelelo identifies, rewards and promotes good governance and service delivery through an annual awards programme, case study research, policy analysis, training workshops, and encouraging replication.