The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, told Parliament during the Government Communication and Information System's (GCIS) recent budget vote debate that the National Assembly should approve the department's 2025/26 budget with six conditions.
Ms Diko stated: "We are not content to merely rubber-stamp this budget. Our support comes with clear, enforceable conditions designed to transform GCIS from a passive broadcaster into an active enabler of democracy."
She noted that the committee had invoked section 10(5) of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure Act to amend the 2025-2030 strategic and 2025/26 annual performance plans of the GCIS.
Six Conditions for Approval
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According to Ms Diko, the six amendments that must be met for the budget's approval are:
1) Development of a communications performance management framework for the executive and senior officials
2) Legislative and policy reform
3) Introduction of a monitoring, evaluation and results framework
4) Reforms to Brand South Africa (Brand SA) and the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
5) Enforcement of the 30% community media spend
6) Provision of technical support for media compliance and transmission
"Government communication must be strategic, multilingual, people-centred and data-informed. We must go to where the people are - at ranks, traditional communities, churches, social media platforms, WhatsApp groups, community halls - and speak with one voice, with clarity and compassion," she said.
Progress Underway, says Minister
Minister in the Presidency, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, assured Parliament that progress is already being made toward fulfilling some of these conditions. She said the GCIS monitors the implementation of the National Communication Strategic Framework by national and provincial departments on a quarterly basis to identify areas needing improvement and support.
She added that the first quarterly report would be tabled at the next Cabinet meeting and that it would also be shared with the committee to enhance oversight.
30% Community Media Target
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Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Mr Kenny Morolong, said the GCIS is finalising a stand-alone media buying policy. This policy would ensure that at least 30% of the government's advertising expenditure is allocated to community media.
He said: "The media buying policy will also enable over 700 entities, 230 municipalities, 30 national government departments, and 70 provincial departments and nine provincial legislatures to comply with setting aside 30% of advertising budget for community media."
Budget Allocation
The GCIS requires a total budget of R820.281 million for the 2025/26 financial year, as presented by Minister Ntshavheni. Of this, R270.711 million will be allocated between the MDDA and Brand SA, which will receive R40.296 million and R229.072 million respectively.
Ms Diko concluded: "We support this budget vote conditionally, critically, and constructively." She added that South Africans deserved a government that spoke to them, not past them; that listened as much as it informed; and a government that made its presence felt not only in times of crisis, but on the daily and quiet rhythms of people's lives.
