Let me deal with a few issues as the background of this GCIS, because some of us do not understand the GCIS. In 1994 there was a breakthrough in the country. That breakthrough afforded the majority of the people with the opportunity of attaining state power. That state power was not attained for its sake but to pursue the revolution.
What is the revolution? The revolution is the process of resolving antagonism in society. The ANC's strategy and tactics clarified that the aim of the national democratic revolution in our context was to resolve fundamental contradictions about national oppression, social exclusion, class super exploitation and the triple oppression of women. In order to realise the national democratic society we need a legitimate state with the force of cohesion, popular support and a democratic constitution.
This background will assist us to correctly position our frame of mind when deliberating on this Budget Vote. Hence, there was the formation of the GCIS. The aim of the GCIS was precisely to provide comprehensive communication services on behalf of government - not the ANC - to facilitate the involvement of public participation in governance, nation- building and reconciliation.
The key objective of the GCIS is to continually communicate and inform the public of the policies and programmes of the government - not of the ANC, of the government - to improve their lives. Indeed, the GCIS derives its existence from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which guarantee freedom of expression, media freedom and the right of access to information. Why did we need the GCIS then and even today? In 1995, the ANC government set up an independent task team. One of its findings was that, overall, government lacked central co-ordination in messaging and adequate planning of information campaigns, and that communication was given a low priority. Hence, the GCIS was located in the Presidency as the highest office in the land.
The other finding was that there was an apparent lack of skill to analyse and explain the complex economic and social transformation, which was both a challenge and a constraint; hence the importance of creating a mechanism for improving media capacity.
Another reason was that the ANC government was faced with a major ideological offensive from the opposition - listen, Kganare, you were part of us back then - and factions in the mainstream media, whose objectives were the promotion of market fundamentalism and control of the media in order to retain the old apartheid and social relations. [Interjections.]
These attitudes were strengthened by the fact that there was a well- orchestrated global offensive against progressive values and ideas. In fact, the concentration of ownership, control and content within the international media environment is reflected in the local industry and reinforces the offensive. That's why the mainstream media, in pursuit of media freedom, sometimes undermines other constitutional rights like the right to privacy and dignity. It is very important to acknowledge these harsh realities in order to appreciate the mammoth task faced by the GCIS in an environment that is inundated with sharks in the form of the mainstream media. [Interjections.] As long as you don't insult me, I don't have a problem.
Indeed, media is a contested terrain - listen to this - and therefore not neutral, but reflective of the ideological battles and power relations based on race, class and gender in our society. [Applause.]
Therefore, it is very important for the GCIS to acquire the skill to translate complex issues into simple messages of hope to the people of this country. We need an effective and efficient GCIS that can survive under difficult conditions. The GCIS must serve both public and national interests. The role of a progressive media is critical in building a vibrant democracy.
Minister, you can now start taking note. Let me propose the following recommendation for the GCIS to consider, Minister: to position the GCIS as the influential role-player in the communication sector, something that is very important; to strengthen the government-wide communication system for effectiveness and proper alignment; to address the silo mentality amongst communicators in our government; and to utilise the existing mechanism that has been created since 2003 by the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, to disseminate information and advertising and to communicate directly with specific communities.
In addition, the budget increase in nominal and real terms should increase service to the people and not be spent on frills, travel, goods and services and on salaries and bonuses. It is very important for the GCIS to allocate at least a page or two to report government expenditure on infrastructure and tangible social upliftment programmes. The Minister should make use of his location in the Presidency to advocate for practical and centralised co-ordination in messaging, and for there to be adequate planning of information campaigns. The information gap between the government and the masses should be minimised in order to improve popular participation.
Let me raise this point as well, because for me and the ANC it is very critical: If we want to attain this developmental state that we seek to build in an environment where the opposing forces are aligning themselves to oppose the current government, it is critical to develop and deploy academically and politically skilled and qualified cadres to defend and pursue the revolution with the necessary vigour. [Applause]. We need cadres who will resist the negative pull of the system that we seek to destroy, namely apartheid. [Interjections.]