– Kouga Local Municipality celebrated decades of dedication and public service at its recent Long Service Awards ceremony, held at Newton Hall in Jeffreys Bay.
The event honoured employees, retirees, and medically boarded staff members whose combined service to the municipality totalled an impressive 1 585 years.
Tribute To Dedicated Public Servants
The evening recognised the commitment of municipal employees who have helped keep Kouga functioning through major challenges, including fires, floods, infrastructure repairs, and emergency response operations.
Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman thanked staff members for their continued dedication and praised their contribution to the municipality’s growth and resilience.
“It is a special time to honour staff who dedicate their lives to the municipality,” he said. “We have the best staff. We value you as co-workers and team members. What you do makes a difference.”
Bornman also highlighted the recent floods that affected the region, saying municipal employees had gone far beyond their normal responsibilities to support communities during the crisis.
Recognition During Difficult Times
Deputy Municipal Manager Dawie de Jager reflected on the origins of the Long Service Awards initiative and paid tribute to the late Senior Human Resources Practitioner Sizwe Latile, whose passion for staff recognition helped establish the program in 2020.
“It was important to her that staff members be recognised and that pensioners receive their post-retirement benefits,” De Jager said.
He also praised municipal workers for their efforts during recent emergencies.
“The fires in January and the floods proved that Kouga has the best staff,” he said. “Top management cannot do anything without you.”
Speaker Lorraine Maree encouraged staff members to continue serving their communities with pride and professionalism.
Milestones Across Decades Of Service
Employees were honoured for reaching service milestones ranging from 10 years to 35 years.
The ceremony recognised dozens of staff members for 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service, while Kerneels Lejander received special recognition for achieving the remarkable milestone of 35 years with the municipality.
The municipality also paid tribute to retired and medically boarded employees who had completed their years of public service.
Commitment To Community
As the ceremony concluded, the event highlighted the role municipal staff continue to play in the daily functioning of Kouga communities.
Behind every repaired road, functioning streetlight, emergency response, and disaster relief effort are municipal employees whose long-standing service continues to shape the future of the region through dedication, resilience, and community commitment.
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