Deputy Minister Kenny Morolong: GCIS Public Service Day
Acting Director-General of the GCIS, Ms Nomonde Mnukwa,
Members of the GCIS Management Committee,
Dr Patrick Sokhela of the Department of Public Service and Administration, Mr Willie Vukela,
Director-General of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Cynthia Ntombifuthi Stella Khumalo,
Auditor-General of South Africa, Ms Tsakani Maluleke,
Fellow colleagues in the GCIS,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour to join you today as we mark GCIS Public Service Day under the theme, "Healthy, Valued and Ready to Serve: Investing in Our Staff, Strengthening the GCIS," as part of Public Service Month.
We convene here today, not merely to mark an occasion, but to reflect on what it truly means to serve.
Public service is more than a profession; it is a calling and a responsibility.
It is a commitment to place the needs of our people at the centre of everything we do.
Regardless of our role, we share a responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing, development and prosperity of South Africa.
Public Service Month is not just a calendar event.
It is both a celebration and a call to action.
It recognises the contribution of public servants across the country while challenging us to continually improve the way we serve.
It is a call to strengthen our performance and uphold the values of professionalism, integrity, accountability and compassion.
As we reflected last year, public service is not merely a job; it is a vocation rooted in the principles of Batho Pele, putting people first.
Above all, we must never lose sight of who we serve and why we serve.
Programme Director, for GCIS, this responsibility carries special significance.
Communication is not separate from service delivery; it is an essential part of it.
Citizens can only access opportunities, programmes and services when they have access to accurate, timely and relevant information.
This places GCIS at a critical point of connection between government and the people.
As we said before, GCIS sits at the intersection of policy and the people it is meant to serve: the voice, the bridge and, at times, the first responder when citizens ask what government is doing, how it affects their lives and whether they can trust the message.
Our responsibility is not simply to communicate, but to ensure that information reaches people in ways that are meaningful, accessible and useful.
Every communication product, whether a media statement, community engagement, public information campaign or social media post, has the potential to help citizens make informed decisions and access opportunities that improve their lives.
Our commitment to effective communication extends beyond GCIS itself.
It requires a communication system that is coordinated across national, provincial and local government so that citizens receive clear, consistent and credible information regardless of where they live.
This is why the Government Communication Policy advocacy programme is so important.
Through engagements across the country, we have worked to promote a shared understanding of government communication and strengthen coordination across the three spheres of government.
The policy must be more than a document; it must translate into a practical guide that informs how government communicates every day.
It must help ensure that communicators work together, share information and support a coherent whole of government voice in the public interest.
This responsibility becomes even more significant as we prepare for the upcoming Local Government Elections.
Election periods place increased demands on government communicators and heighten the importance of credible, timely and accurate communication.
During this period, citizens rely on government communication channels for information about services, programmes and government activities.
It is therefore essential that we continue to provide information that is factual, accessible and responsive to the needs of the public.
At the same time, we must remain mindful of an important principle that underpins our work: government communication must always be politically impartial.
As public servants, we have a responsibility to understand and uphold the distinction between government communication and party political campaigning.
State resources must never be used to advance partisan interests, nor should government communication products promote or prejudice any political party.
Our role is to inform citizens about government policies, programmes, services and opportunities while upholding the constitutional values, legislative framework and professional standards that govern the public service.
This principle is particularly important for GCIS because the effectiveness of government communication depends on public trust.
Citizens must have confidence that the information they receive is accurate, impartial and provided in the public interest.
As we approach the elections, let us remain guided by these principles.
By doing so, we will protect the integrity of government communication, strengthen public confidence in our work and continue to serve South Africans with professionalism and credibility.
As we uphold these principles, we should never lose sight of the broader purpose of government communication.
Our role is not only to provide information, but also to strengthen democracy, promote civic participation and build an informed citizenry.
This is why initiatives that connect citizens to our shared national story are so important.
They remind us that communication is not simply about conveying messages; it is about fostering understanding, encouraging participation and strengthening the bonds that unite us as a nation.
One initiative that exemplifies this approach is the Milestones of Freedom Campaign.
As government's central communications coordinator, GCIS has taken this important national initiative directly to communities through provincial launches, the most recent yesterday in North West.
The campaign has become more than a commemoration programme.
It has provided a platform for reflection, participation and dialogue while strengthening social cohesion, active citizenship and national pride.
By highlighting the defining moments of our democratic journey, it reminds us that freedom was purchased through blood, sweat and tears.
This serves to remind us that each generation has a responsibility to protect and strengthen it.
I encourage every GCIS employee to continue supporting and amplifying the campaign through every available platform.
By ensuring these stories reach communities across the country, we help preserve our democratic heritage and strengthen our shared national identity.
As Team GCIS, our excellence in communication must be matched by excellence in governance and organisational performance.
Today we celebrate an important achievement with GCIS retaining its Clean Audit outcome from the Office of the Auditor-General.
This achievement reflects sound governance, accountability and financial discipline.
Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this result.
I also wish to acknowledge Acting Director-General Ms Nomonde Mnukwa, Ms Nomkhosi Peter, Mr Hennie Bekker, Mr Terry Vandayar, Ms Linda Kaseke and Mr Simon Mankgaba for their leadership and commitment throughout the audit process.
Your contribution to this achievement is deeply appreciated.
While we celebrate the achievement of a clean audit, our ambition must extend beyond compliance.
A clean audit confirms that public resources have been managed responsibly, but our ultimate measure of success is the impact we make in the lives of South Africans.
We must therefore continue implementing the recommendations of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies to strengthen organisational performance and deliver measurable results.
Organisational excellence is not achieved through systems and processes alone.
It is achieved by people.
That is why we welcome GCIS's Integrated Recognition and Reward System, which celebrates excellence and reinforces a culture of high performance.
We congratulate all colleagues who have been recognised through the Employee of the Month programme for their professionalism, commitment, innovation and dedication.
Today we also mark a special milestone with the introduction of the Team of the Year Award.
This recognition acknowledges a simple but powerful truth: public service excellence is rarely the result of individual effort alone.
It is achieved when people work together with a shared purpose and a commitment to delivering results.
Congratulations to the team that won the Team of the Year accolade.
Your achievement demonstrates the power of collaboration, accountability and teamwork.
May your example inspire teams across GCIS to continue striving for excellence in service of the South African people.
As we celebrate GCIS Public Service Day within the context of Public Service Month, we should take pride in what we have achieved while remaining focused on the work that lies ahead.
Whether through our communication programmes, our governance systems or our daily interactions with citizens.
Each of us has a role to play in strengthening trust in government and improving the lives of our people.
Let us continue to serve with professionalism, integrity and purpose.
Let us continue striving for excellence in everything we do.
And let us continue working together to build a stronger GCIS and a better South Africa.
Together, we can ensure that government communication not only informs, but also strengthens democracy, promotes accountability and helps build a more united, inclusive and prosperous nation.
In doing so, we carry forward the commitment we made last year: to ensure that no South African is left behind or left in the dark about what government is doing.
Ke a leboga!
#GovZAUpdates
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
