The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Kenny Morolong will on Thursday engage with the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Council (PEC) on the coordination of government communication, nation branding and community media support in the province.
“The engagement forms part of government’s ongoing communication policy advocacy programme aimed at enhancing a coordinated and integrated government communication system across all spheres of government,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Wednesday.
The engagement follows similar sessions held in the North West, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu- Natal provinces as part of a nationwide rollout intended to strengthen communication planning, promote a cohesive national narrative, support community media and advance South Africa’s nation-branding objectives.
Morolong has been visiting provinces engaging with the leadership on the revised Government Communication Policy.
The policy places a strong focus on supporting small commercial and community media, with government expected to set aside 30% of its advertising spend for these media outlets.
Government is stepping up efforts to transform the way it communicates with South Africans, with a revised communication policy placing greater emphasis on coordinated messaging, adequate funding for communication and increased support for small commercial and community media.
The Government Communication Policy can be accessed here: https://www.gcis.gov.za/sites/default/files/Government%20Communication%20Policy_REVISED%20Mar.pdf
The Deputy Minister will be accompanied by delegates from the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and Brand South Africa (Brand SA).
Speaking at the PEC session in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month, Morolong said: “We have agreed that communication can no longer be an afterthought. It is an important function that must be enhanced through funding.”
READ | Morolong engages KZN on revised communication policy
He also explained that government is encouraged by progress being made in advancing the objectives of the revised policy. – SAnews.gov.za
