14 June 2016
South Africa will be celebrating the 100th edition of the Government Communication and Information produced newspaper. The celebrations also mark the launch of the popular paper`s fresh new look, inspired by the spirit of the youth that led the Soweto uprising.
GCIS Acting Director-General, Donald Liphoko said: “This refreshed newspaper is a celebration of the journey we have travelled, since 2005 with our loyal readers, over the past 99 editions. Since we started with the production of Vuk`uzenzele we have sought to develop a publication that embraces all South Africans and contributes to national building and social cohesion”.
The publication was introduced at the time when there was scepticism about the role for a government produced newspaper. The public discourse at that time, purported that the publication will be viewed as a propaganda instrument. Since the paper has been warmly welcomed by communities and is sought after particularly in areas where the mainstream newspapers are not distributed.
Vuk`uzenzele aims to provide news and information to all South Africans and as such, a lot of effort goes into ensuring that it is distributed to those in the peri-urban and rural areas, in particular, where access to trustworthy information is scarce,” said Liphoko.
The newspaper carries stories guided by five priorities of government of Health, Education, Employment, Rural Development and Safety and Security. True to its name, Vuk`uzenzele, reports stories of people in communities who have taken advantage of government provided services to improve their lives.
The first edition hit the streets in October 2005, in a magazine format. Since then Vuk`uzenzele has changed its format and appearance and continues to make huge strides in communicating government`s programmes and policies to many South Africans. The newspaper was established with the sole purpose of making government information available in a simplified manner to the people of South Africa, particularly those who don’t have access to empowering developmental news.
In 2011, Vuk`uzenzele changed from being a bimonthly magazine to a monthly newspaper. In the same year, the newspaper also carried a special four-page Employment News supplement focusing on job creation and skills development related articles with government recruitment advertisements in the public sector.
“Five years later, we continue to evolve, Vuk`uzenzele now consistently carries government jobs. The newspaper has also changed its cycle from a once a month to every fortnight to give readers current and fresh news,” Liphoko said.
“Readers can now enjoy a much cleaner design, short and to the point stories, bolder headlines and more exciting pictures as of the 100th edition. We continue to carry a message from President Jacob Zuma, as well as stories of ordinary people who are making a difference in their communities.
Vuk`uzenzele has embraced the digital age and it is available for mobile download from App Store and on Google Play. Is also available on www.vukuzenzele.gov.za .
Vuk`uzenzele is partially translated in all official languages to ensure that the reader receives government news in the language of their choice.
To date the newspaper has produced more than 162 million copies. Vuk`uzenzele also boasts the largest print run within the newspaper industry. It is also available in Braille to cater for the visually impaired, with more than 51 thousand Braille copies having been produced so far.
“We will continue to strive to bring readers government news more frequently,” concluded Liphoko.
Enquiries:
Donald Liphoko (Acting Director-General)
Cell: 082 901 0766
Issued by GCIS
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