Government Communication and Information System
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 18 May 1998; 26 years ago (1998年05月18日) |
| Preceding Agency |
|
| Type | Communication co-ordinator |
| Jurisdiction | Government of South Africa |
| Headquarters | Tshedimosetso House Hatfield, Pretoria |
| Annual budget | R 757.430 million (2021/22) |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | gcis |
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is an agency of the South African government charged with coordinating, managing, and advising on all government communication with the public, including media liaison. It is a unit in the Office of the President and falls under the political authority of the Minister in the Presidency. The head of GCIS is the director-general of the department and the official spokesperson of the South African government.
The corporation was established on 18 May 1998 in terms of Section 7 (subsections 2 and 3) of the Public Service Act, 1994. It replaced the apartheid-era South African Communication Service.[1]
List of directors-general
[edit ]- Joel Netshitenzhe (1998–2006)
- Themba Maseko (2006–2011)
- Mzwanele Manyi (2011–2012)[2]
- Phumla Williams (2020–2022)[3] [4]
Criticism
[edit ]In 2023, GCIS was reported to start its own streaming service at a cost of R1 billion.[5] This is in addition to the Department of Social Development spending a portion of its budget on its own streaming service (DSDTV).[6]
References
[edit ]- ^ "History and background of Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)". Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Government jettisons Jimmy Manyi". The Mail & Guardian. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Phumla Williams finally gets the nod for top government communications position". Sunday Times. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Phumla Williams resigns as head of GCIS". Business Day. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "South African government spending R1 billion on streaming service — Report".
- ^ "We tested the South African government's "DSDTV" streaming video channel".
