Pretoria - The success of the recent Local Government Elections in South Africa has once again demonstrated the country's growth as a democracy and how it continues to attract the respect of the international community, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.
"For us, the elections, like many events we have held before, are once again proof of how we can help market this brand called South Africa ... to be a democratic country is very important because now we have people who are able to link their vote to their living conditions and that markets SA in terms of its democracy," Zuma said after meeting the board of the Internal Marketing Council in Pretoria.
The elections also helped SA to boost its marketing internationally both politically and economically, he said.
The meeting, attended by, among others, businesspeople and Minister in The Presidency Collins Chabane, also discussed at length the need for business government to work together to promote and market the successes of the country domestically and to the world.
Established in 2002, the IMC is tasked with developing and implementing proactive and coordinated marketing and communication strategies for the country.
The body's chairperson, Anita Soni, said South Africa's advanced telecommunications and research infrastructure made it one of the attractive and competent countries in the world.
"What we discussed in this meeting is that considering the things we have, it is very important moving forward that we as South Africans become brand ambassadors for our country because we have a lot to be proud of, but it will take all of us to achieve that," she said.
Zuma also used the meeting to appoint Geoffrey Rothschild, Moss Leoka, Sindi Mabaso-Koyana and Ramasela Moloto as the new members of the IMC board, all from the private sector.
New government representatives on the board are the Presidency's Director General Cassius Lubisi, DG of Trade and Industry Lionel October, Arts and Culture DG Sibusiso Xaba and Timothy Scholtz from Tourism SA.
