BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
ZONDWAKO— Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has commended the decentralization of government services to rural areas, following a successful outreach programme at Zondwako where 400 residents benefited from free registration of birth, death, and marriage certificates.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which aimed to bring essential services closer to the people, ensuring that citizens in remote areas can access government support without the burden of travel costs. The event formed part of the government’s broader decentralization drive to strengthen service delivery at community level.
Speaking during the handover of houses to disadvantaged families at Zondwako, DPM Dladla praised the ministries involved, particularly Home Affairs and Tinkhundla Administration, for working together to fulfill the constitutional mandate of bringing government closer to the people.
“Decentralization of services is very important, and I thank the ministries of Tinkhundla and Home Affairs for reaching out to the people. The Tinkhundla system exists for that reason, so that local leaders can understand the daily challenges of the people and relay them to government through proper channels,” she said.
She further highlighted that many rural citizens struggle to access services due to transport costs, hence the importance of extending services directly to the communities.The DPM also applauded the Ministry of ICT for introducing the Government in Your Hand mobile application, which enhances public access to government services through digital platforms.
According to Zondwako Bucopho, Nkosinathi Sacolo, the outreach benefited over 400 residents, including 11 grandchildren of beneficiary Bawinile Phakathi, who previously lacked birth certificates.
The Zondwako Umphakatsi expressed appreciation to government, noting that decentralization has restored dignity and inclusion for many who had long been excluded from essential national services.
