Government communicators were urged to unite and take the centre stage to ensure the dissemination of correct government messages to communities. This emerged at the launch of Local Government Communication Forum (LGCF) held recently at Mmabatho Palms Hotel.
The LGCF which will serve as a platform to strategize for local government communication, aims is to afford public sector communication leaders an opportunity to learn strategies and discuss techniques for managing in the evolving communication landscape.
MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Manketsi Tlhape supported the initiative and said it’s long overdue. “I’m thrilled that communication is growing from strength to strength in this department and all municipalities, however we are still underperforming in some areas. It’s vital that communicator’s supply the public with the correct information about what is happening in government or else the media will occupy the space and create their own perception.
It’s time to pick up our socks and do what is expected of us as communicators. You are important in government and it’s imperative that you pick up your socks and become pioneers in this field” said Tlhape. The LGCF will also provide for a strategic roundtable discussion on managing the rapid changes in government communications technologies in the public sector.
The HOD Mr. Monnapula Motlogelwa also had a few words of encouragement for communicators to continuously voice out their concerns. “You have problems such as low budget if there is any, unavailability of resources such as laptops, 3g’s, cellphones, printers, scanner and other important tools which should make your job easier.
It’s about time that communication should be taken serious and be given the attention it deserves. The forum must be represented in management meetings in both the department and municipalities so that concerns raised must be registered with the management” said Motlogelwa.
The Government Communications Information Systems (GCIS) and the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) led by Mareka Mofokeng and Ephraim Mfoloe respectively also shared their knowledge and best practices on how municipalities and the department can further advance developmental communication in the province.
LGCF was officially launched and a plan of action set. The forum which consists of communicators from the department, all municipalities and SALGA will meet on a quarterly basis to share information and iron out communication matters as well as share lessons learnt and best practices. The next meeting will be held in Moretele around December.
