January 30, 2006
By Sipho Maduna
COUNCIL chambers were filled to capacity as excited councillors received certificates of recognition and City staff were given employee awards.
All City councillors got certificates on Thursday, 26 January to mark the end of their terms of office.
Recognising their contribution: Executive Mayor Amos Masondo hands the emergency services team, headed by Dr Audrey Gule, a certificate for Most Innovative Project
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
"A need has been identified to recognise the contributions made by the councillors of the City of Johannesburg," said Shirlyn Serobatse, the head of training and capacity building in the Office of the Speaker.
The corporate service department also initiated a way to recognise employees for outstanding performance. The awards were presented in two sessions - individual and group or department awards.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo presented the certificates to the councillors and was joined by councillor Thomas Phakathi to present the awards to staff members.
The ceremony took place after the council meeting, and recipients' family members were also able to attend. Councillors cheered for each other as their names were called, and sang whenever the mayor went quiet.
At the end of the ceremony, Speaker Nandi Mayathula-Khoza gave a certificate to the mayor.
Employee awards, made for outstanding performance, were handed to individual staff members from different departments. They were made in six categories: bravery; safety ambassador; worker of the City; worker with exceptional impact; secretary of the year; and knowledge management.
"I always try to satisfy the client and make sure that the client receives the information that he or she wants," said Gabi Methula, of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department in Meredale. She was named secretary of the year.
The group awards followed; they were made to honour City departments for outstanding performance. The categories included safety, best performing department, best department in risk management and best corporate entity.
Winner of the best department in risk management was Region 11. "We had put in place control measures and good monitoring and tracking devices," said Xolile George, the regional director. His region keeps in mind the four Ts - treat, transfer, terminate and tolerance, which all have to do with risk management.
Speaking after the ceremony, Masondo congratulated all councillors for dealing with complex issues and coming up with solutions. "The council for this term has set very high standards."
He highlighted the debates that had been held at City council meetings and alluded to the difficulties faced in the last months before the end of term.
In closing, Masondo wished all political parties well in this year's municipal elections, to be held on 1 March.
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