Cape Town – Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi has pleaded with the mainstream media not only to criticise but to report on important information which South Africans deserve to know.
Manyi was addressing journalists following an ordinary meeting of Cabinet.
He raised concerns that some media organizations would get information from the government, and instead of reporting it to the public, merely criticise.
Manyi said government welcomed media criticism, but it was also important for the media to “pass on” government information to all South Africans, especially on issues of service delivery.
“We have content, please pass it on … Government is serious about information getting to the people, we don’t apologise about that.”
Manyi was speaking in the context of the Cabinet having approved the “Government Communication Strategy.”
“This strategy will ensure … change in communication, underpinned by the support from Government Commutation and Information System (GCIS),” he said.
He said that government’s Vukuzenzele magazine would be transformed into a monthly tabloid.
Social media platforms would also form part of government’s communication channels.
“Approval of the strategy will also see a return to government’s centralised approach to media buying.
“GCIS will procure media space/airtime for national departments in order to realize economies of scale. Government, through the GCIS, will monitor and enforce adherence to the government brand,” he said.
Manyi said that “non-Cabinet weeks” will be used for media briefings to communicate progress on the implementation of government’s programme of action. – Francis Hweshe, BuaNews
