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Media
statement: Guidelines on government communication during
the coming municipal election period
13 October 2000
Attached please find guidelines, which
are aimed at assisting government communicators and other public
servants in determining the parameters within which we should conduct
our work during this election period.
The election period follows immediately
on the announcement of the election date by the Minister of Provincial
& Local Government and ends when election results are certified
and announced.
We kindly request that the guidelines
be distributed to all communication staff in your department, as
well as to any other public servants whose work may be affected
by the matters raised in the document.
Thank you
Sincerely
Joel K Netshitenzhe
CEO: GCIS
Guidelines
on government communication during an election period
Background
- It is normal practice in most democracies
that, during an election period, particular attention is paid
to ensuring that government communication structures and officers
do not act in a way that advantages or disadvantages participants
in the electoral contest.
- Prior to the national elections
in 1999, Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)
developed guidelines on government communications during the formal
election period.
- On 31 March 1999, Cabinet decided
on a possible "framework to be formulated to regulate against
the dissemination of government information during election periods"
in a way that is to the advantage of one political party and to
the disadvantage of others. It adopted the Guidelines on 28 April
1999.
- The Guidelines remain relevant
and are meant to assist government communicators and other relevant
public servants in determining the specific parameters within
which they should conduct their work in the election period. The
Guidelines have been decided upon at the initiative of Government.
The IEC may, independently take whatever relevant steps it deems
necessary on this matter.
Public Service Act
- In accordance with the Public Service
Act, public servants are prohibited from acting in a manner that
is intended to promote or prejudice any political party. In particular,
Section 36 (c) stipulates that "an officer or employee may
not draw up or publish any writing or deliver a public speech
to promote or prejudice the interests of any political party."
- According to Section 20 (g) of
the Act, "an officer, other than a member of the services
or an educator or a member of the National Intelligence Services
shall be guilty of misconduct and may be dealt with in accordance"
with public service regulations "if he or she makes use of
his or her position in the public service to promote or to prejudice
the interests of any political party." This includes the
use of government resources.
- During an election period, these
and other provisions of the Act continue to apply to all public
servants. Communication agencies and components of government
and their employees have to exercise special care to ensure that
their media products, statements and public events for which they
are responsible, do not promote or prejudice any political party.
Scope of Application
- According to the IEC an election
period is the period during which the IEC's Code of Conduct and
Independent Communication Authority of South Africa, ICASA, regulations
apply. For the municipal elections this period will be determined
once the date for the election has been announced, and
party lists are submitted and participating parties and candidates
confirmed. The period will end when election results are certified
and announced.
- Strictly formulated, during an
election period: "State-financed media shall not be used
for the purpose of promoting or prejudicing the interests of any
political party."
- What is state-financed media?
‘State-financed media’ means any newspaper, book, periodical,
pamphlet, poster, and media release or other printed matter, or
statement, or any audio and video material, or any information
in electronic format such as CD-Rom, Internet or e-mail which
is produced and disseminated to the public, and which is financed
by, and directly under the control of, government".
- These regulations apply to communicators
and other relevant public servants. In so far as Ministers and
other political representatives, contractual workers and employees
in role-playing posts are concerned, the parameters of their political
work in government are regulated by the Ministerial Handbook;
and they are not the subject of these Guidelines.
Constitutional Rights and Obligations
- Communication officers and their
agencies should continue meeting the obligation of Government
to provide information to the citizenry.
- Communication officers should continue
exercising their responsibility to promote and defend the policies,
programmes and actions of the government.
- Like all other citizens, communication
officers have the freedom of association: to belong to any party
of their choice. Subject to provisions of the Public Service Act
quoted above, any political activities that individual public
servants, including communicators, may wish to undertake, in their
own private time, is their own private matter.
- These guidelines shall be distributed
to all communication officers in government departments and services
as well as other public servants whose work may relate to the
matters raised herein. The responsibility for this will lie with
the Heads of Department and Heads of Communication.
Issued by: Government Communication & Information System
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