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The School Administrators
Officials from the Housing Department
Graduates
Special Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Master of Ceremonies, I feel greatly honoured to be standing before this house on behalf of the Department of Housing to register our appreciation for the efforts made by our employees and others from different spheres of Government during their training here. Undergoing training has never been that easy generally speaking. Therefore, when people offer to use their time effectively to improve on their skills and capacity - they need to be supported and encouraged. And so we are here to say congratulations to everyone who has made it.

From the reports we have received from our officials in the human resource department who are directly responsible for initiating training programmes for employees of the Department, the performance and dedication displayed by graduates here remains commendable. The first block of the Housing Policy Development and Management Programme (HPDMP) was concluded on a high note. Participants were enthusiastic with an attendance rate of more than 95%. They have also shown high morale and enthusiasm throughout the course.

Clearly, Government welcomes such reports. In fact, these positive outcomes serve to challenge us to allocate more funding for capacity building programmes for our staff members. Today we have 340 of our employees graduating and to receive certificates of competence and other forms of recognition for having proved themselves to the rest of the world that they are indeed committed to ensuring that government 's programmes on personnel development succeeds.

Furthermore, the graduation ceremony today becomes one of the greatest achievements of the Gauteng Department of Housing. It is something interwoven in many of our programmes aimed at taking our province into higher heights.

Over the past two years, we have as government learnt to appreciate the importance of establishing clear priorities to amongst others, streamline, consolidate and to implement them with more consistency and vigour. Those priorities cannot be separated from the overall efforts to train and build a strong human resource team able to tackle the problems and obstacles we often come across during our line of duty. Part of this endeavour should aim at acknowledging the obligation we have, that of explaining to our citizens in more simple terms, the difficult choices and challenges we continue to face, and how together we can work our way through them. Such a huge task definitely needs staff that is well equipped to transcend all odds.

Ours is to salute P&DM for having played such a crucial role by providing training that is relevant to our delivery programmes. In the majority of cases, there is dedication and improvements by management and public servants alike. The partnership between P&DM and us is a strategic one. It equips us with the much-needed skills to manage people (employees) and their problems in a transformed public service. Our cherished goal at present is to see human resources that are managed by those closest to the point of delivery.

Number of graduates for year ended 2001

1. Certificate of competence - 180
2. Certificate of attendance - 160

From this graduation ceremony, our graduates should be able to prioritise their work, have the ability to plan strategically, improve on management aspects, and demonstrate acumen in financial management, as well as to apply the finest financial control practices. We definitely believe in our graduates' capabilities, good qualities and dedication. You are now at liberty to demonstrate continued willingness and commitment to share your knowledge with fellow employees in the interest of government.

Master of Ceremonies, on behalf of all staff members - I would like to congratulate the graduates today for having completed their courses and for having made the Department proud. To the graduates, I would like to say that - for your time, energy and commitment to the training, you have managed to earn yourselves the greatest respect ever from your colleagues in your various Departments.

For enquiries contact Dumisani Zulu at 082 602 3532

Issued by Housing, Gauteng

14 December 2001