GCIS provides communication and information services to the domestic and foreign media to improve their knowledge of government-related issues.
Requests for and enquiries about information or services are handled directly by the individual GCIS units. Contact information can be found at the description of each service listed below.
- Accreditation of foreign journalists
- Directory (contact information and profiles)
- Facilitating interaction with government
- Information enquiries
- SAnews.gov.za
- Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Media Coordinator (SNMC)
- Distribution of government information
Accreditation of foreign journalists
South Africa plays host to the largest concentration of international journalists on the African continent. More than 150 journalists representing various media houses across the world use South Africa as a base to cover Southern Africa and Africa as a whole.
The Directorate: Media Engagement is responsible for accrediting international journalists wishing to report from South Africa. The following is required before accreditation is granted:
- letter from media organisation requesting accreditation of journalist, signed by editor or bureau chief
- certified copy of passport (certification of passports or identity documents is done at police stations and post offices)
- valid work permit from the South African Department of Home Affairs
- two identical photos of journalist
- brief description of the journalist/s’ roles and areas of specialisation.
Requests for accreditation should be directed to the Director: Media Engagement at the GCIS.
Bongiwe Gambu
Tel: 012 473 0036
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za
Directory (contact information and profiles)
The GCIS maintains an online database of contact information for government structures and bodies, media organisations, journalists, and a selection of other institutions such as political parties, foreign representatives in South Africa, tertiary and other institutions, etc.
The database also contains a collection of brief profiles of the President, Deputy President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentary office bearers, Provincial Premiers and some government leaders.
This online directory can be accessed on:
The information contained in the database can also be printed as four separate directories, namely:
- South African Government Directory [PDF] 996 kb
- Local Government Directory [PDF] 828 kb
- Directory of Contacts [PDF] 1064 kb
- Media Directory [PDF] 573 kb
- Profile [PDF] 757 kb
Facilitating interaction with government
The Directorate: Media Engagement coordinates interviews and briefings with government departments for the media as and when such requests are made to the Directorate.
Bongiwe Gambu
Tel: 012 473 0036
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za
Information enquiries
The Directorate: Media Engagement assists the media with all government-related queries.
Bongiwe Gambu
Tel: 012 473 0036
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za
SAnews.gov.za
SAnews.gov.za is a South African government news service, providing reliable government news and information to community and mainstream media. You may subscribe to receive SAnews e-mail newsletters three times daily. Visit SAnews.gov.za online.
Roze Moodley
Tel: 012 4730263
E-mail: roze@gcis.gov.za
Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Media Coordinator (SNMC)
The Directorate: Media Engagement provides information on all SADC-related activities to the media, coordinates and manages the South African chapter of the SADC Media Awards.
Bongiwe Gambu
Tel: 012 473 0036
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za
Distribution of government information
The Directorate: Media Engagement distributes a range of government and government-related information (media statements, speeches, etc), to the foreign and domestic media.
Bongiwe Gambu
Tel: 012 473 0036
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za