North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong.               Picture: Baagedi Setlhora

By: Refilwe Mochoari

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, has urged the North West Provincial Government to adopt the national government communication policy aimed at strengthening how the state communicates with citizens.

Morolong made the call on Wednesday during a meeting with members of the provincial executive council at the Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mahikeng. The meeting also brought together representatives from the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), and Brand South Africa.

As the minister responsible for GCIS, Morolong stressed the importance of effective and coordinated communication between the government and the public. He noted that the Cabinet has recently resolved to review the government communication policy, which serves as a strategic framework to ensure coherent, transparent and consistent messaging across all spheres of government.

The GCIS provides strategic communication leadership and support to government institutions and is responsible for submitting a National Communication Strategy to Cabinet. “I am here to familiarise the provincial government executives with the government communication policy,” Morolong said.

He explained that GCIS works closely with the MDDA and Brand South Africa to fulfil its mandate. The MDDA focuses on promoting media development and diversity by creating an environment that enables public discourse reflecting the needs and aspirations of all South Africans.

Brand South Africa, meanwhile, serves as the country’s official marketing agency, tasked with promoting South Africa’s global reputation and ensuring the nation remains competitive and respected internationally.

Following a closed session with Morolong, North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi said discussions also focused on positioning communication effectively across the three spheres of government, with a strong emphasis on keeping the public informed.

Mokgosi also highlighted the need for stronger government support for community media. “Our responsibility as government is to inform people about what the government is doing. Departments must provide reports on their progress in supporting local media.

As a province, it is our duty to support local media,” Mokgosi said. Morolong was accompanied during the visit by senior officials from GCIS, the MDDA and Brand South Africa.