29 June 2025
Honourable Speaker, Honourable members, fellow South Africans.
Introduction
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. A pivotal milestone, which, as we reflect, we cannot help but marvel at the progress that, as a country, we have attained. The vision that was articulated in Kliptown in 1955 must find expression in the very work of the entities that we have in front of us today.
Honourable Speaker, it is essential to acknowledge that some limitations expressed by the entities stem from the inefficiencies of having a DA minister at the helm of the DCDT. Driving transformation requires active redress of historical injustices. Let me directly address the misinformation and selective outrage that have characterised some opposition statements to this debate. The overall position of the DA has always centred around the budget being wasteful expenditure. From the outset, this revealed their shocking unawareness or deliberate distortion of how the developmental budget works.
At the heart of our conversation is the central role of the GCIS. To those criticising the GCIS’s coordination mandate, answer this straightforward question: why should taxpayers continue to fund separate departmental communication units with duplicate budgets, staff, and contracts?
National Communication Strategic Framework
The National Communication Strategic Framework is about more than just centralisation for control and removing departmental autonomy; at its core, it aims to eliminate the wasteful expenditure that the opposition claims to oppose. Our commitment to strengthening Government communication remains firmly focused on ensuring that people have ongoing access to credible and centralised information.
Ultimately, for GCIS to be fully effective and lead the industry in providing information, our departments need to get behind it. To achieve this, we must effectively utilise the GCIS platforms for announcements and conveying critical information. We also need to address the role of MLOs and enhance the departments’ communication framework. The first priority is to align these two areas, with the overall goal of building a capable departmental communication framework. The next step is to establish a clear communication point and guidelines.
This brings me to accountability, where criticism of internal department regulation on MLOs has been expressed, and insights have been given on the use of the universal service and access fund levy. However, when addressing this criticism, we must remember that it pertains to an implementation shortfall, not a failure of policy. Implementation is enabled by budget availability and allocation.
Recommendation endorsement
As the ANC, we stand firm in our support for the budget vote, but our backing reflects the clear and actionable recommendations to ensure that the entities deliver maximum impact for the people of South Africa. The committee’s recommendations serve as a roadmap for accountability and measurable outcomes that will determine the success of the entities over the medium-term expenditure framework.
Regarding GCIS, we emphasise the need for a fundamental shift from activity-based reporting to results-driven governance. This approach will ensure that mere activity is not rewarded, but translating APPs into achieved targets becomes the primary focus. APPs should also go beyond superficial output measures and prioritise measurable outcomes demonstrating tangible improvements in citizens’ lives. The Government Media Buying Policy, pending since 2018, must be finalised within the current financial year to promote transparency and transformation in state advertising. Additionally, GCIS must submit a comprehensive report on these matters by the end of the fourth term.
The National Communication Strategy Communication Framework must be a priority of the portfolio committee, and a detailed breakdown of its technicalities must also be presented. These accountability measures are crucial to ensuring a budget that truly works for the people.
For critical national events such as the G20 and the Presidential National Dialogue, the GCIS must present a clear, actionable communication plan to parliament and ensure that parliament is kept up to date with the developments in this regard.
On the MDDA, the committee’s recommendations hold equal urgency. The targets proposed must be based on evidence. A rigorous impact assessment plan must accompany proposed programmes. A clear, sustainable strategy is vital for all funded projects. Many community media initiatives often fail after funding due to weak business models. This work continues and is supported by the budget vote allocation.
Honourable speaker, in closing, this debate has revealed a fundamental divide, not just the digital one we work daily to address, but the one regarding the effective use of state resources and the capacitation of state entities. We must unite to formulate a vision and working plan that will serve our people and set South Africa on a path of digital advancement.
The ANC supports this budget vote.