communication activities
13 February 2007
The North West MEC for Developmental Local Government and Housing, Phenye
Vilakazi, yesterday challenged municipal communicators to make use of available
technology to further enhance their communication initiatives and to keep
abreast with issues that may affect their institutions.
Addressing a workshop of municipal communicators from across the province,
Vilakazi called on communicators to seize the platform in their respective
municipalities and use it to their advantage. Citing examples of how his
current and previous communicators interacted with him as an MEC, Vilakazi said
it was the responsibility of each communicator to ensure that their political
principals have confidence in them.
"If you demonstrate your usefulness to your political principals, they will
recognise both the value of your job and yourself as a person occupying that
position. Successful communicators are those who are not afraid to tell their
principals what is right and what is wrong in terms of communication within
their institutions," said Vilakazi.
Vilakazi however, has acknowledged that municipal communicators were still
the worst resourced officials among the three spheres of government. "This is
an unfortunate situation as this is the sphere that is closest to the people
and it therefore requires intensified communication. If you don't have the
necessary resources, you are unlikely to come up with effective communication
strategies," said Vilakazi, adding to that he said he will talk to all mayors
to help equip communicators in their municipalities.
Vilakazi's sentiments were supported by the North West Provincial
Spokesperson, Tanana Monama, who emphasised that it was the responsibility of
each communicator to prove that they can deliver and help project and maintain
a good image for their municipalities. "If you don't do your work as
communicators, you risk projecting communication as insignificant and your
municipalities will not take communication seriously, let alone you as a
communicator," he said.
A report presented by South African Local Government Association-North
West(SALGA-NW)'s Cecilia Moumakwe revealed that the number of municipalities
with communication personnel in the province, had improved significantly during
the past three years, however, most of the communicators are still at entry
rank and do not have sufficient operational budget. The report also revealed
that there are still communicators who are not allowed to sit in council
meetings, management meetings or other decision making structures, a situation
Vilakazi said must improve as a matter of urgency.
For further information please contact:
Mandla Mathebula
Cell: 083 282 6133
Dineo Thapelo
Cell: 072 218 2559
Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
13 February 2007
