The mandate of the GCIS is derived from Section 195(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, which stipulates that the public should be provided with information that is timely, accurate and accessible. This is in support of the constitutional principles of freedom of expression, and transparent and open governance.

The department is responsible for providing strategic leadership and coordinating government communication to ensure that members of the public are informed and have access to government programmes and policies that benefit them. Over the medium term, the GCIS planned to continue focusing on providing and facilitating strategic government communication and facilitating active citizen participation by rendering core communication activities and driving key national priority campaigns.

The department aimed to continue publishing Vuk’uzenzele newspaper, which is the only national publication that is focused on government’s key priorities, with an emphasis on service delivery programmes and the opportunities created by government.

The GCIS was expected to conduct activations across the country that entail direct interactions with citizens, mostly in area‐specific local languages. Key activities include printing pamphlets and information brochures, and advertising on social media, and radio and television stations. Activations will be initiated based on domestic and foreign media engagements, and important government and national events such as the State of the Nation Address.

Over the medium term, it planned to drive national priority campaigns on GBVF, anti‐corruption in government, and the ERRP. These campaigns are primarily aimed at raising awareness and informing the public on progress made in dealing with these challenges, and will be conducted through social media, community radio stations, television, newspapers, and distributing leaflets and flyers.

The GCIS continues to drive a variety of its own products and platforms to ensure that information reached South Africans. These include the fortnightly Vuk’uzenzele newspaper, daily News Service (SAnews); weekly My District Today newsletter, monthly Public Sector Manager magazine and annual South Africa Yearbook.

The department also engages with the public through campaigns and outreach programmes. These include community radio talk shows, activations at taxi ranks and malls, information blitzes on commuter trains, and social media campaigns.

It also holds a community and stakeholder engagements term in the form of dialogues, meetings, webinars and community radio talk shows with sector departments, civil society, youth formations, faith‐based organisations and business forums. In addition to these initiatives, the department conducts development communication projects to enhance service delivery and keep citizens informed and empowered on government’s progress and projects.

Source: South Africa Yearbook 2022/23