Presidency For Performance Monitoring And Evaluation: Minister's Budget Vote Speech
Briefing
10 May 2012
Minister of GCIS, Mr Collins Chabane gave his Budget Vote Speech on the 10 May 2012
________________________________________________________________
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee
Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
Honourable Members
Honoured Guests
Friends and Comrades
Members of GCIS management and staff present
Members of the media present
Ladies and gentlemen
I feel privileged to present the 2012/13 Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Budget Vote in this House today.
democratically elected President, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
In our fight against the triple challenge of Unemployment, Poverty and Inequality, it is as important for government to create tangible, practical opportunities for a better life as it is to let people know, in the first place, that these opportunities exist.
Secondly, GCIS itself commands a range of communication platforms and a stakeholder management system which feed off - and feed into - the communication programmes of departments.
This approach, Chairperson, was implemented with great energy and innovation in 2011/12, a year that the organisation spent 95 % of its allocated budget.
· The launch of the Matola Memorial Monument built in Mozambique.
· The COP17/CMP7 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
· World Economic Forum (WEF) in
· Water Week
· 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children
GCIS enhanced the reach and frequency of the Vuk’uzenzele publication by successfully converting this important information source from a two-monthly magazine into a monthly, free newspaper, with a circulation of 1,7 million per edition. More than 50 million copies have been published in all official languages, including Braille.
Chairperson, allow me to turn to the year ahead.
GCIS’s primary role is to provide strategic leadership in government communication and coordinate a government communication system that ensures that the public is informed about government’s policies, plans & programmes.
The national strategy remains focused on the five key priorities of government, with an added dimension being that of popularising the extensive public infrastructure development campaign launched by President Jacob Zuma this year.
One objective is that of building people, products and processes and a reliable knowledge base to ensure an effective government communication system. This entails:
• Strategic leadership and support in government communication;
• Media monitoring, research surveys & analysis;
• Content development and the creation of platforms to grow the voice of government;
GCIS is also committed to maintaining a well-functioning communication system that proactively informs and engages various publics. Features of this approach are:
• Adherence to government communication standards;
• Alignment of messages across the spheres of government;
• Building an empowered citizenry through sustained communication of government policies, plans & programmes;
• Building and maintaining stakeholder partnerships;
As I have previously indicated, GCIS will also entrench an efficient and effective production and advertising agency for government, focused on cost-effectiveness and impact of messaging.
Internally, GCIS will maintain responsive, cost-effective, compliant and business-focused corporate services with emphasis on:
• Attracting and retaining highly skilled human capital;
• Efficient and effective information technology infrastructure and systems;
• Effective strategic management processes and procedures;
• Professional internal audit services;
• Proactive, responsive, compliant and cost effective finance, supply chain & facilities management.
Finally, GCIS will work with departments, clusters and entities to ensure that government’s image and that of the State at large is projected, defended and maintained. This will involve:
• Managing government’s corporate identity;
• Continuous measurement of public perception;
• Professionalising the government communication system, and
• Popularising the programme of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission
Chairperson, in the coming year, GCIS’s key deliverables include the following:
We will launch a project focusing on 20 Years of Democracy, with a view to mobilising government and the nation at large in the build-up to the marking in 2014 of two decades of democracy.
40 000 copies of the South Africa Yearbook, 20 000 Yearbook Pocket Guides and 4 000 DVD versions will be made available to public libraries, schools and other institutions.
GCIS will digitise approximately 3000 hours’ worth of video footage of government recorded over the years. This footage is used to develop GCIS products and to share with public and private broadcasters.
GCIS will lay the foundations for a recognised, credit-bearing qualification in communications in the Public Sector by convening an academic symposium with at least 10 geographically representative academic institutions in partnership with Palama.
Chairperson, over the coming MTEF period, the expenditure is expected to increase to R417 million at an average annual rate of 4.6% which is slightly below the projected rate of inflation. The increase is on compensation of employees, which is projected to grow to R195.8million over the medium term at an average annual rate of 5.5%,in line with inflationary projections.
The R19.5 million increase in expenditure on goods and services over the medium-term relates to the increased print run and production costs of Vuk’uzenzele newspaper, as well as lease payments in respect of a new head-office.
GCIS has taken a strategic decision to support the President and Deputy President with video and photography during their international engagements. This has led to an increase in budget of over the medium term.
Over the medium-term, the department receives additional allocations for improved conditions of service (R3, 5 million, R3, 8 million and R4, 3 million per annum respectively) and office accommodation and costs related to the new head office building, to the tune of R50 million.
The GCIS Budget for 2012/13 is R429 million, with MDDA receiving an allocation of R20 million.
This budget is there to ensure that citizens are fully informed about government’s programme and how it can change their lives, and that they have opportunities to interact with government.
This is a small price that generates huge expectations among the people of our country and its leadership.
Chairperson, another component of our work is Brand South
Brand
During the year under review, Brand South Africa succeeded in doing the following;
It was in the same year that we formally changed the name of the International Marketing Council (IMC) to Brand South
It was also in the same year, after intense consultation and research we have managed to secure a new pay-off line accepted and approved by all key stakeholders in our country, “Inspiring new ways”. This is derived from the brand essence “Inspiring new and different ways”. This is to ensure that we remain relevant and competitive, in this dynamic global environment. This new pay off line carries a message of who we are and what we stand for.
We have also noted improvements in perception scores about our country based on the following Brand SA pillars: diversity, Ubuntu, possibility, sustainability and innovation. The launch of domestic campaign called “Play Your Part”(PYP) has been a success. Play Your Part is a campaign responsible for domestic mobilisation of South Africans encouraging them to play their part in creating a positive social change. Amongst others achievements, the following are the highlights for the year:
· A 13 part TV series on SABC 1 during the period over October till December 2011 showcasing ordinary South Africans performing extraordinary things.
· Launch of the Quality Learner Teacher Campaign in collaboration with the Department of Education, with the aim of identifying underperforming schools and getting teachers and learners to play their part to improve the school performance.
· Encouraging business to play their part, where Nestle adopted a school in Escourt.
The focus internationally is to positively influence and shape perceptions about
Chairperson, the Brand South Africa vote has been moved from GCIS to the Presidency with effect from the 1st of April 2012. The Presidency will present its budget vote on the 30 May 2012 where we will elaborate extensively on the work of this important entity.
In conclusion, Chairperson, I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Deputy Minister, Obed Bapela for his impactful leadership and strategic guidance to GCIS.
I would also like to thank the Portfolio Committee for its vigilance and its support for the work of this important institution of government.
I would also like to thank the CEO, Jimmy Manyi, and the management and staff of GCIS for the sterling work performed in a very dynamic, challenging and at times, under-resourced, environment.
Eight days from now – on the 18th of May – we will mark 14 years since GCIS was formally launched and we can look back with pride on the achievements of this department.
I commend this budget to this House in the interest of telling the new story of
I thank you.
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