KwaZulu-Natal Director-General, Ms Nokuthula G. Khanyile, has called for the revitalisation of Operation Sukuma Sakhe to strengthen accountability, coordination and impact-driven service delivery across the province.

Ms Khanyile convened a District Development Model Operation Sukuma Sakhe Provincial Task Team meeting at Nevas Community Hall in KwaDukuza Local Municipality on Tuesday, 01 September 2026.

The meeting brought together senior government officials to reflect on the functionality of Operation Sukuma Sakhe and sharpen its focus as a practical vehicle for improving service delivery in communities.

Opening the meeting, the Director-General emphasised the importance of discipline and accountability within government, expressing concern over absenteeism and the failure of some officials to tender apologies.

“We are not here to play. We are here to serve the communities of KwaZulu-Natal,” said Ms Khanyile.

She said the effectiveness of Operation Sukuma Sakhe depends on committed officials who understand their responsibilities and remain accountable for delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives.

Outlining her vision as the newly appointed Director-General of KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Khanyile identified three priorities that will guide her leadership.

These include correctly positioning the Office of the Premier as the coordinating nerve centre of Provincial Government, restoring the decorum of government through respect, discipline and integrity in the public service, and driving impact-based service delivery where every programme is assessed against its tangible effect on citizens.

Ms Khanyile reminded officials that the Batho Pele principles remain the “ten commandments of government” and must underpin the manner in which public servants interact with and serve communities.

She said government programmes cannot be measured only by activities undertaken or resources spent, but must ultimately demonstrate meaningful improvements in the lives of residents.

The Director-General also reflected on engagements held during a recent Committee of Heads of Departments retreat in Richards Bay, where Heads of Departments assessed their roles as Operation Sukuma Sakhe champions.

She said the engagement reaffirmed that Operation Sukuma Sakhe is not a slogan, but a practical mechanism designed to change lives.

Cabinet OSS, she explained, is demonstrated through initiatives such as Operation Siyahlola, where Members of the Executive Council visit communities to monitor service delivery and assess progress on the ground.

Among the priorities identified during the retreat was the need to strengthen support for vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, women, children and persons with disabilities, including through improved access to housing.

Ms Khanyile also called for stronger and more functional District Task Teams, describing them as the backbone of Operation Sukuma Sakhe implementation.

The Director-General placed particular emphasis on data-driven governance, saying an effective OSS nerve centre must maintain reliable information on the conditions facing communities.

She said critical indicators should include the number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment, child-headed households, elderly residents requiring assistance and other vulnerable groups in need of government intervention.

Ms Khanyile further called for greater scrutiny of the relationship between resources spent and results achieved, including Subsistence and Travel expenditure associated with government programmes.

She said accountability requires government to determine whether the resources invested in programmes are producing measurable and meaningful outcomes.

With Local Government Elections approaching, the Director-General also urged provincial structures to prepare for the induction of new councillors and mayors into Operation Sukuma Sakhe structures to ensure continuity and alignment with provincial priorities.

“We need to hit the ground running, working bumper to bumper so that we are able to induct new councillors and mayors into OSS structures,” said Ms Khanyile.

Concluding her address, the Director-General called on officials to rekindle their passion for public service and reconnect with the communities they are entrusted to serve.

“Let’s go back to being the officials that adore the people we serve,” said Ms Khanyile.

She said government must demonstrate inclusivity, discipline, professionalism and a genuine commitment to serving citizens with dignity.

The Provincial Task Team meeting marked a renewed drive to reposition Operation Sukuma Sakhe as an effective instrument for coordinated and people-centred governance, with a stronger emphasis on evidence, accountability and measurable impact.