Pretoria - The South African government will dedicate a page on its free paper, Vuk’uzenzele, to spread news about the African Union (AU)’s Agenda 2063.
The announcement was made by Communications Minister Faith Muthambi on Tuesday at the closing of the two-day meeting of the 2nd African Editors and Press Officers to popularise Agenda 2063.
“We will dedicate a page in Vuk’uzenzele, the South African government’s newspaper to propagate news from the African Union as our contribution to promoting its programmes amongst our citizens.
“It is important that governments participate actively in communicating the African Union’s programmes to their citizens.
“Secondly, we will create an information distribution point through all the Information Resource Centres in all the provincial offices of GCIS, so that we can disseminate AU information,” she said during the meeting held in Pretoria.
As part of the conversations to reform the AU communication machinery, Minister Muthambi said South Africa is prepared to share its experience through Brand South Africa to assist the AU communications programme.
She said the media are a critical partner to popularise Agenda 2063 and this conference serves to foster an inclusive African media landscape, which in turn should contribute towards crafting a progressive African narrative.
Empowering women in the media
“We need a skills revolution where women as equal partners can tell our stories. We must empower women in the media as they are the majority on this continent and are at the forefront of implementing social change.
“I am convinced that the role of women in the media is central to transforming the media landscape in Africa.
“Women by necessity are innovators and can provide pragmatic solutions to communicating in Africa, by building bridges that join various African communities and cultures,” she said.
Minister Muthambi emphasised that African governments working together with the media can accelerate the objectives of Agenda 2063.
Media Freedom
The Minister said the South African government’s commitment to freedom of expression and a free media remains steadfast.
“As is our commitment to a free and flourishing media. I can further assure you that government will continue to engage with media and the industry in a spirit of partnership.
“The South African media has played a critical role in driving change to liberate the people of South Africa, including the struggle for media freedom, freedom of expression, access to information, media diversity and the right to communicate.
“In the 22 years of our democracy, the right of the public to a free media is indisputable.
“There are many aspects to this, and for the media to play its role it needs to be trusted and seen as credible by the public,” she said.
Declaration of the African Editors Forum
- “Noting the progress in relation to the political commitment and the implementation of Agenda 2063, we call upon the AUC to consider mechanisms to strengthen the administrative and communications capacities so as to ensure a more effective communications and interaction with the media, civil society and the citizens. To pursue this we agree to set a joint AUC and TAEF steering committee which shall also explore the longer term relationship between the institutions.
- Considering our commitment to Pan Africanism as well as the objectives and aspirations of Agenda 2063, we pledge our energies and minds towards the establishment of the mooted African Broadcaster, a Pan African Website and News Agency.
- Reaffirming our commitment to Africa’s narrative and excellence we commit to celebrate the Windhoek Declaration (which we consider as Africa’s gift to the world) through the recognition of African Writers who have reported on Agenda 2063 and related initiatives.
- Agreed to collaborate on a programme with the African Union Commission and public broadcasters to promote the involvement of women in the newsroom and as media owners. To advance this we agreed to hold member states accountable for equality and equity in the work place.”
- SAnews.gov.za
