15 Oct 2017

Government employees stationed in Tlokweng on Friday (October 13) embarked on their monthly physical fitness exercise.

The initiative is part of the government’s endeavour to keep employees fit, alert and healthy.

The principal of Tlokweng, Tswelelopele and Naledi brigades, Mr Basima Basima said the monthly exercise helped employees to be physically, mentally and spiritually alert, which also contributed positively to their work performance.

He said the government was worried about the number of days its workforce took visiting health facilities, adding that it could have been avoided through physical exercises. Mr Basima stated that being unwell had a direct impact on productivity levels while fitness reduced absenteeism in the workplace.

He noted that a day has been reserved every month to give staff an opportunity to engage in physical activities as well as to receive motivation.

Furthermore, Mr Basima said there was need for staff to also develop the habit of engaging in physical exercises at their own time, adding that one could walk instead of using a vehicle.

Mr Basima added that the day also gave employees the opportunity to network and build a rapport between ministries which could improve service delivery as it brought departments together.

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development principal programmes officer, Ms Lebogang Modisakgomo said a happy public service was more likely to offer better service to clients.

She said it was necessary that employees were engaged in physical fitness activities to keep them refreshed.

Ms Modisakgomo stated that government wished to have healthy employees, and that it had reserved a day for employees to exercise once in a month.

She said Tlokweng Sub-district public service employees resolved to come together on that day.

Ms Modisakgomo said their intention was to have each department hosting the activity, adding that it was the responsibility of each individual to keep fit. She said the programme aimed to have a productive healthy workforce which was results orientated.

She added that government was fully behind the monthly physical fitness activities. BOPA