Directorate: National Liaison (NL)
Director: Legadima Leso
Tel: 012 314 2125
Fax: 012 321 2305
Cell: 083 378 9495
E-mail: legadima@gcis.gov.za
The overarching purpose and role of NL is to drive an effective and functioning communication system through the promotion of comprehensive interdepartmental cooperation and assisting departments to develop effective communication strategies.
Assistant Director: Shadi Puoane
Assistant Director: Lwazikazi Mayekiso
The functions of the directorate include:
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Stakeholder liaison and support: Ensure ongoing engagements with departments, creating relations that will enhance improved communication. Support those departments without communication capacity. Provide guidance to ministerial liaison officers and heads of communication (HoCs) in the implementation of government’s Programme of Action (PoA) and their work within the structures of government.
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Communication support at provincial and local spheres of government: Ensure that government speaks in one voice.
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Management and coordination of communication forums:
- Induction: Identify new communicators in the system and provide induction to ensure optimal functioning of the communication system.
- Government Communicators’ Forum (GCF): The GCF is a platform for government communicators that enhances and promotes integrated and joint planning of government’s work.
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Provincial HoCs meeting: The meeting is a strategic platform for provincial government communicators that enhances and promotes integrated and joint planning of government’s work.
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Electronic information tools
- Database: Compile and update the database of communicators on an ongoing basis. The database assists with easy channeling of messages to communicators in all spheres of government.
- Communicators’ web page: The main objective of the extranet is to offer updated information on government communication.
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Calendar of Events: The Government Calendar of Events is a platform that enables government communicators to share their public activities and programmes. This will assist with the integrated planning and management of the work of government.
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Strengthening integration within the system
- Provide strategic advice on national and provincial communication strategies: Communication strategies are to create an environment in which government communicates its PoA and policy priorities in a disciplined, coordinated and coherent manner.
- Cascades information to all spheres of government, ensuring that the communication system functions optimally and that there is integration of messages.
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Government Communication Programme (GCP): The GCP assists government with forward planning and proactive planning of communication.
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Managing government information products
- Bua Magazine: Bua Magazine is an electronic magazine for government communicators. The magazine aims to encourage debate and promote continuous discussions around issues affecting government communication.
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Government Communicators’ Handbook: The handbook guides and assists communicators to navigate through the challenging profession of government communication.
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Strengthening the communication system
- Content development: Content is collated and formatted so that it is easy to understand and provide direction on key issues.
- Internal Communication: Internal communicators are responsible for developing and implementing an internal communication strategy, which forms part of the overall departmental strategy.
- Present key communication priorities and the National Communication Strategy to departments and provinces, ensuring a strengthened communication system and facilitating the communication strategising sessions of departments/provinces.
- Promote the use of strategic government information by sharing strategic Cabinet decisions with communicators.
- The Cluster Supervisor and Coordinator take part in communication projects that are linked to the respective cluster as required by Project Desk.