Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) invites members of the media to the 2023 SADC Media Awards Competition Webinar taking place on Tuesday, 21 February 2023 at 11h00.

The awards aim to recognize excellence in journalism in the area of print, photojournalism, television and radio as well as to encourage media practitioners in member states to cover issues pertaining to the region for the promotion of regional integration and cooperation.

A. Issues in the environment

1. State of the Nation Address (SoNA)

1.1. Cabinet reaffirmed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s clarion call made in his 2023 State of the Nation Address for all South Africans to work together and leave no one behind as we tackle our country’s pressing challenges.

1.2. The President’s bold measures put energy at the forefront of government’s plan of action for the year to deal decisively with load-shedding and secure a sustainable energy supply.

Commencement of public comments on the revised MAC Charter Sector Code

Today, 15 February 2023 the MAC Charter Council held a virtual engagement to resume a series of stakeholder consultations regarding public comments on the revised Marketing, Advertising and Communication (MAC) Charter Sector Codes.

The stakeholder consultations are scheduled to take place in all nine provinces in South Africa starting in Eastern Cape on 16th February 2023.

Youth discuss the 2023 State of the Nation Address

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in collaboration with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) will host a discussion on the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) during a Twitter Spaces scheduled for Thursday, 16th February 2023.  

Government joins the globe in observing World Radio Day under the theme “ Radio and Peace”.  The 13th of February is specifically set aside to raise awareness of the importance of radio. 

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele calls for public comments on a revised MAC Charter Sector Code

The Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele has published a notice in a government gazette (Gazette number 47804 ) calling on the public and interested stakeholders to work with the Marketing and Advertising Communication  (MAC) Charter Council to make oral and written inputs to review the current MAC Sector Code.

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will be conducting Pre-SoNA outreach activities, led by Minister Mondli Gungubele and Deputy Ministers, Pinky Kekana and Thembi Siweya from 07 – 09 February 2023 in the Western Cape. 

The country’s energy action plan continues to be implemented in earnest, with the long-term goal of securing continuous, credible energy supply.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in collaboration with Higher Health, South African Union of Students and the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities will host a Twitter Spaces discussion on how   higher education campus spaces can be free of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). 

GBVF remains a challenge in South Africa, including institutions of higher learning.  As most youth who just concluded matric move to these institutions in this year 2023, it is important that their safety is prioritised. 

Government urges South Africans to take extra caution as the heatwave persists in certain parts of the country. 

GCIS Acting Director General, Michael Currin said: “We are concerned about the impact of the hot weather parts of South Africa has been experiencing. We are extremely sad to hear about the passing of eight people that have died of heat stroke in the Northern Cape after a heatwave hit the province over the week. Government sends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”