Thulamela first to pilot new government service app
The Let's Talk mobile application was officially launched at Thohoyandou Town Hall under the Thulamela Local Municipality.
LIMPOPO – The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Office of the Premier and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) officially launched the Let’s Talk mobile application at Thohoyandou Town Hall under the Thulamela Local Municipality.
The app is a citizen progress update mobile system which will assist Local and Provincial Government to realise the Batho Pele Principles that stand for the better delivery of goods and services to the public.
Thulamela is the first municipality in the country to test this technology.
The app, which will be used for communication between citizens and government in all Thulamela wards, provides a platform for citizen-generated data regarding service delivery.
It is through this app that citizens will be able to take photos of any type of
government-related concern, for example, potholes or unfinished RDP houses, upload and send it to the service directory of the relevant government department.
Bongani Matomela, from the programme, expressed his excitement at the launch of the initiative and the opportunity to working with people such as Moepi Setona, the innovator for the Let’s Talk app.
Matomela indicated that the intention of the project is to benefit the communities of Thulamela. “There will be 12-month free Wi-Fi in this hall and in the 10 wards in which the project will be piloted,” he announced to huge applause from the audience.
Meshack Mabundza from the Office of the Premier highlighted previous initiatives carried out by the programme and Provincial Government, and thanked UNDP for the continued support.
He expressed gratitude to the Danish Embassy for funding the initiative.
Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Thulamela, Avhashoni Tshifhango expressed his team’s commitment to ensure the success of the project.
