The Gauteng Department of Social Development has recognised two hundred and fifty-eight (258) employees who have dedicated ten (10), twenty (20), thirty (30) and forty (40) years of service in the department.
Annually, the department hosts Long Service Awards to acknowledge employees who continue to play a key role in ensuring that the department responds to issues on the ground.
These awards are conducted in accordance to the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council Resolution which makes provision for recognition of Long Service Ceremony.
Speaking at the award ceremony at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Friday, the Gauteng Social Development, MEC Morakane Mosupyoe, emphasised that the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GGT2030) Plan and the National Development Plan, must be at the centre of our programmes and performance, so we can move towards a national democratic society.
"As we work together to hasten development in our province, let us adopt the attitude of the East Asian countries; let us see ourselves as civil servants and change agents with a mandate. And the authority to transform society," said Mosupyoe.
One of the recipients, Mpho Zulu, who works at Zanele Mbeki Frail Care Centre in Dunnottar, Ekurhuleni has served over 40 years in public service.
She said "I am grateful to receive this gesture today as the longest serving employee in the department. It has been a long 40 years but very fruitful."
This year, the Department recognised 161 employees with ten years of service; 68 employees with twenty years of service; 26 with thirty years of service and 3 employees with forty years of service.