Public servants warned

2004-04-04 14:38

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki has issued a stern warning to under-performing public servants, reminding them that they are supposed to serve the people of South Africa.

Mbeki said the African National Congress did not want to put into public office officials who did not understand that they were elected to serve.

He told a packed FNB Stadium where the ANC was holding an election rally: "We are saying the government of the people of South Africa must respect the people."

He said no pensioner should be unable to receive his or her grant because of poor performance from civil servants.

"We must improve the lives of the people for the better," Mbeki said, adding that like when the ANC was inaugurated into power in 2004, in 2009 it would continue to fight unemployment, poverty and crime.

"We must perform by confronting and defeating these problems."

The stadium was packed to capacity and many people were outside watching proceedings on a big screen.

- SAPA