Communications minister Faith Muthambi has urged the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) to have clear communication strategies that inform citizens about government-led efforts.
The GCIS is a government communication platform and one of the entities managed by the Department of Communications (DOC).
At the weekend, Muthambi held a meeting with the senior management team of the GCIS to discuss how to amplify communication around issues of service delivery and government's programme of action.
This is not the first time Muthambi has proposed patriotism in the way news about government is reported. She has been vocal about developing a training programme for communicators and journalists in the country, as well as so-called "sunshine journalism".
According to the minister, communication at local government level needs to be strengthened so citizens are better informed of government's programme of action, particularly around matters of service delivery.
She says: "There is urgent need to capacitate municipalities with skilled communicators to improve communication on matters of service delivery. Government needs skilled communicators, especially at local government level to turn the citizenry into an informed nation about the Nine-Point Plan.
"If our people are not sufficiently informed about how the public purse is spent, it should not come as a surprise when from time to time we get various community protests," Muthambi adds.
She notes communication must be heightened to create awareness of the objectives of government's Nine-Point Plan as well as its significance to grow the economy.
The GCIS has a central mandate to drive coherent government messaging and strengthen how government works in unison to deliver efficient and professional government communication, Muthambi states.
"Government communicators have a responsibility to ... ensure regular engagements between government and citizens of the country."
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