Pahad to host award ceremony for government communicators: 6 December

2 December 2002

Government holds awards ceremony in honour of communicators

The Minister in the Presidency, Dr Essop Pahad will, on behalf of the South African government, honour government communicators at the inaugural Government Communicators Awards (GCA) ceremony. The awards will recognise communicators who have shown improved delivery, innovation and excellence in government communication.

Government communicators are the faces and ears of government,keeping the public and the media informed about government's programme of action and service delivery. The GCA is an annual event, which seeks to appreciate and encourage excellence and professionalism in government communications. Government communicators from the three spheres of government namely: National, Provincial and Local governments will be eligible to participate. This includes communicators based abroad in South African missions (press attaches).

The ceremony will be held on Friday, 6 December 2002, at Birchwood Executive Hotel in Boksburg, Johannesburg.

The awards are categorised as follows:

• Government Communicator of the Year Award: will be awarded to an overall winner who shall have shown quality and enhancement in his/her work.
• Bua Award: Bua means to speak: This award will be awarded to Media Liaison Officers and Departmental spokespersons who displayed courage and commitment in the positive portrayal of government.
• Ubungcweti Award: Ubungcweti is a Zulu word for excellence - the award recognises excellence in writing, editorial content, layout and design. This category also caters for the contestants from the New Media, namely: Intranet, Extranet, Internet, email, sms technology, and any new technological invention.

The awards considered all work done between 1 October 2001 and 31 August 2002. A ten-member committee chaired by Mr Mandla Langa, who is also the chairperson of Icasa, oversaw the whole process.

An independent adjudication panel consisted of representatives from South African National Editors Forum (Sanef), National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), National Association of Broadcaster of South Africa (NABSA), and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communication.

Enquiries
Harold Maloka
Cell: 082 847 9799

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)