North West Premier, Thandi Modise, has challenged government communicators in the North West to excel in their work, and ensure that they reclaim their title of Government Communicator of the Year. Premier Modise was speaking to about 250 government communicators in Mafikeng during the Provincial Communication Lekgotla.
She reminded the audience that in 2009, the Office of the Premier won the Government Communicator of the Year, in recognition of communication excellence. “This means you outperformed all government departments, including at national level. Despite many limitations, constraints and challenges relating to government communication, I have no doubt that our communication cadres across all spheres have what it takes to reclaim our position as the number one province in the area of communication”.
You will probably agree with me that the quality and effectiveness of government communication requires urgent attention. As government communicators, you have a responsibility to do more than what you have been doing to ensure that our people are well informed about the programmes and vision of our democratic government.
Premier Modise noted the many limitations and constraints that undermine the effectiveness of government communication, and committed her administration to do everything possible to assist communicators to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
“We will ensure that all provincial departments and municipalities have communication structures that are consistent with government policy. We will also ensure that where vacancies exist, only appropriately skilled and qualified people are appointed. This we must do if government is to derive value from its communication,” she said.
She said that government would focus on the need to improve communicators’ access to crucial information by ensuring that all Heads of Communication have access to political principals and sit in strategic and management meetings. This, she said, will enable them to communicate government decisions more effectively.
The Premier also noted the request by communicators for EXCO to identify one MEC who will be assigned an additional responsibility for communication. This, according to communicators, would help ensure effective political oversight of government communication. “We will respond to this request in due course,” she said.
Premier Modise said her government would ensure that skills development opportunities are available to all communicators as part of improving the quality of communication. She added: “We will ensure compulsory induction of all government communicators – new and old – to ensure that all our communicators understand the paradigm of government communication and the policy posture of our democratic government.”
She further committed her administration to ensure that proper budget allocations for communication. “Within the constraints of our limited resources, we will strive to ensure that our communication units are properly resourced. I am aware that in some departments and municipalities, the budget allocations may give an unfortunate impression that government does not take communication seriously.”
Enquiries:
Cornelius Monama
Tel: 018 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Email: cmonama@nwpg.gov.za\ cmonama@gmail.com
