New communications minister Faith Muthambi outlined her department's role at the forefront of state information dissemination as she delivered her budget vote speech this evening.
The DOC will replace the Government Communications and Information Service (GCIS). Muthambi said R413.1 million allocated for this financial year will be used "to achieve continuous engagement, consultation and partnership-building with citizens and stakeholders, and sustained sharing of information.
"There are many times we do not communicate as much as we implement and this creates a lag in public awareness or sentiment about the extensive work we are doing to realise Vision 2030 of our National Development Plan," she said.
The new Department of Communications (DOC), which has existed since 25 May, has under its wing the Independent Communications Authority of SA, the SABC, and the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
National strategy
Muthambi noted the DOC's national communication strategy will focus on ensuring its frameworks are adopted at provincial and local government levels, and that campaigns and programmes are aligned with those of national government.
She said around 63.7% of the DOC's allocated funds over the medium term will be spent in the administration and inter-governmental coordination and stakeholder management programmes, with the bulk of expenses including audit fees, IT and human resources.
Spending on goods and services over the medium term is expected to be primarily on the publication of the monthly Vuk'uzenzele newspaper - which highlights government's programmes and achievements - and the South Africa Yearbook, Muthambi said.
"The department plans to issue 42 cluster reports on perceptions of government delivery and performance, conduct 8 250 community and stakeholder liaison visits, and align 6 552 development communication projects with the government communication programme over the medium term," she added.
Around R21.8 million has been allocated to the MDDA, said Muthambi, in a move to enable historically disadvantaged communities to gain access to the media, although details were not outlined.
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