Visit by Deputy Minister Dlodlo to the Archie Gumede Thusong Centre

- By Malcolm Bagwell

March 2011

One of the ladies who assists Janet Dlamini run the Siyobathanda School for children with Special Needs, talks to Deputy Minister Dlodlo from DPSA. With them is Lungi Khuzwayo: Centre Manager of Archie Gumede Thusong Centre, and Nonala Ndlovu: Provincial Director of GCIS, Kwazulu-Natal.	Centre Manager Lungi Khuzwayo, DPSA Deputy Minister Dlodlo and GCIS Senior Communication Officer Mfundo Ndwandwe inspect the clinic at the Archie Gumede Thusong Centre during a tour of the Centre by the Deputy Minister on 10 March 2011.

On the 10th of March 2011, the Deputy Minister of the Department of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo paid a visit to the Archie Gumede Thusong Centre, about 20km outside Durban.

The Deputy Minister was briefed about the Thusong Centre Programme and in particular, the services being rendered at the Archie Gumede Thusong Centre. She then conducted a tour of the Centre but paid close attention to the clinic, as well as the Siyobathanda School, which caters for children with special needs. The DM commented that the clinic was unbearably hot for mothers and small children waiting for services. Furthermore the ceiling fans were not working. She also noted that the municipality was not supporting the school except to provide office space at the Thusong Centre.

After the tour, the Deputy Minister announced that she would be making the Siyobathanda School a special project of hers and that she would be lobbying for funding to make sure the school is sustainable and keeps up their good work. To this end, she said she would have follow up meetings with the MECs of Education, Social Development and Health in order to lobby their support for the school.

Issued by GCIS, Provincial Office KZN