​The Gauteng Department of Social Development Deputy Director General (DDG) for Social Welfare Services, Community Development, Regions, and Initutions, Onkemetse Kabasia has called for prioritization of the needs of beneficiaries over professional desires.st
Kabasia was speaking during the Quality Assurance, Compliance, and Professional Support Indaba at Anew Hotel, in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
He said the Indaba sought to intensify discussions and the language around the importance of quality assurance and quality improvement in government.
"Those that we serve, their needs must always enjoy preferential respect mainly due to the status or circumstances that they find themselves in. So, when it comes to social service professionals, it should never be about us, but primarily, about those that we serve and how we address their needs in a way that accelerates service delivery," said Kabasia.
The Indaba brought together stakeholders from National, Provincial, and Local Government to engage on best practices to improve the quality of services for the most vulnerable in society.
Quality Assurance, Compliance and Professional Support Director, Keba Ntwampe added that what the Department aspires for is to ensure that there is advancement in quality assurance, compliance, and professional support.
"We are not farfetched from professionalization of the public sector, in that, we are talking about the scope of  practice and standardization. We will ensure that we have quality assurance teams in different entities, directorates, regions, and institutions to assist us in driving this vehicle."
Galeboe Rapoo from the National Department of Social Development reiterated that quality assurance was a driving force for good governance.
"We should always aspire to ensure that our people get value for our services. What is important for quality assurance is the benefits and results that our interventions will have for our clients," she said.