In August 1994, South Africa signed a membership agreement to form part of the South African Development Community (SADC) Region which served as the primary vehicle for the country’s foreign policy to achieve regional development and integration within Southern Africa.
South Africa’s approach to regional integration continues to be informed by the fact that it remains inextricably linked to SADC and the entire African continent. South Africa has always declared its vested interest in promoting regional development and ensuring improved conditions in the lives of South Africans and SADC citizens in general.
The region has developed sound infrastructures in many areas, including communications, roads and transport. Many other programmes with a direct positive impact on the lives of the people of the region have been implemented over the past 30 years.
The Protocol on Information and Communication saw the birth of the SADC Media Awards which were established following a decision by the Council of Ministers in 1996. Today, South Africa is launching its chapter of the 2013 SADC Media Awards.
The aim of the Awards was to establish a sector that deals with matters relating to amongst others, information, culture and sport. The awards serve as part of ensuring a link, coordination and synchronisation between formal structures of SADC governments, civil society, academia, labour and the media.
In pursuit of the promotion of regional integration and cooperation (cross-border issues), the awards aim to recognise excellence in journalism in the area of print, photo, television, radio as well as to encourage media practitioners in member states to cover issues pertaining to the region. For the past 7 years, Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has been involved in coordinating the SADC Media Awards on behalf of South Africa.
Today South Africa is also launching a turnaround strategy in an effort to popularise the awards among independent and community media. Media is a critical stakeholder and has continued to play a significant role in advocating the competition.
On 5 March, a Committee comprising of media practitioners was appointed to serve on the awards to oversee an independent adjudication process of the entries. The South African government facilitates the adjudication and nomination of the Awards in addition to providing feedback to the Council of Ministers on the decision of the Regional Adjudication Committee.
Government would like to congratulate the following members who have availed themselves for this important duty and heeded the call to serve on the SADC Media Awards National Adjudicating Committee:
Members:
- Zingisa Mkhuma – Chairperson
- Felicity Levine – Deputy Chairperson
- Nomonde Gongxeka
- Tshepo Ikaneng
- Nkopane Maphiri
- Hopewell Radebe
Government also calls upon the media fraternity to heed this call and participate in this important programme. Let us all join hands to ensure our journalists are honoured for the good work they do for SADC.
Enquiries:
Bongiwe Gambu
Cell: 082 714 9463
