Hon Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, members of the Portfolio Committee on the Government Communication and Information Service and distinguished guests, many South Africans remain unsure as to what the role of Government Communication and Information System, GCIS, is, as well what the role the Minister in the Presidency plays within the GCIS.
The Minister in the GCIS is responsible for performance monitoring and evaluation, to which the GCIS is accountable. The GCIS exists to provide communication, leadership and support to government departments and government in general, and its operational requirements are to keep the public informed about policies, legislation, programmes and activities of government.
With the above explanation taken into account, I am sure the public was just as concerned as I was to see the Director-General of the GCIS, Mr Jimmy Manyi, effectively abandon his given mandate and attempt to take up a new career as South Africa's director-general of Sociore-engineering. It takes one comment, such as that made by Mr Jimmy Manyi, to set South African race relations back years and start a race debate second to none, not only in the public, but in Cabinet too. The South African government endured the embarrassment of racial slurs between high-ranking political office-bearers. The general embarrassment endured by the GCIS was painful to watch. What is probably the hardest pill to swallow is the fact that Jimmy Manyi completely disgraces the GCIS and is then rewarded for his racial divisionary action by being appointed government spokesperson to Cabinet. One has to ask the question: Where is the accountability in that?
I do, however, have a constructive suggestion on how to save the ANC quite a bit of money. Gwede Mantashe and the ANC's national management need not launch a post-election investigation into why they lost so much of the minority vote. All they have to do is question Jimmy Manyi's actions.
Let us now have a look at the GCIS budget as a whole. We have Programme 1, communication and content management; Programme 2, government and stakeholder engagement; and Programme 3, the administration programme.
While all these programmes have their place, we have no choice but to question the amounts of money allocated to them and the necessity of spending millions of rands on repeated strategic plans and programme support that could be shared and which are spreading what can only be described as government propaganda.
Millions and millions of South Africans could benefit greatly from the over R496 million that will be spent by the GCIS. Think of the roads, houses, schools and hospitals that could be built. Instead, South Africans will hear about plans - read Budget! I challenge the GCIS that I am correct in my assumption that perception is not effectively changed by propaganda, but by actions.
The role of the GCIS includes public protection of government performance relating to authorities. The highest negative perceptions were around the following departments: Health, on HIV and Aids; Police, on crime; Social Development, on grants; Labour; Economic Development; and Rural Development and Land Reform.
I enjoy receiving and reading the Vukuzenzele magazine, but I do not enjoy receiving more than one copy in my pigeonhole simply because a certain number has been printed and now they need to be distributed. What I cannot understand is why the publication never arrives at or gets distributed in my constituency. Why does this publication only enjoy circulation in certain areas? I have asked why the publication is not brought to my constituency and I am yet to receive an appropriate answer.
Yesterday I received a lovely gift from the GCIS. A beautiful leather-bound notebook with a matching stainless steel pen was delivered to my office in a very sturdy and attractive gift box, wrapped in a South African flag ribbon. While the gift is certainly lovely, why was it given to me? I am still not sure!
I am a Member of Parliament and earn more than enough to buy my own stationery. I am a Member of Parliament and as such do not need my government advertised to me. I do not want to be ungrateful in any possible way, but I implore the Minister, let us not waste our money on these frivolous niceties. Winter is here, and may I make a suggestion that, instead of giving Members of Parliament fancy notebooks, we should have perhaps distributed blankets to the needy, with the GCIS logo, on behalf of the Members of Parliament.
A clear distinction needs to be made between the state and the ruling party. Until this decision becomes clear, and the propaganda ends and the administration improves, it will be difficult to fully appreciate the GCIS's mandate.
I am a South African. I am proud of my country and I am proud to be a Member of Parliament. I wave my flag with pride in my heart. I cheer with all my might for Bafana Bafana, the Springboks and the Proteas. I do this because I love my country, and I do this not because the ANC tells me to, but because my country is my home, and my fellow South Africans my family. I thank you. [Applause.]