Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has noted a statement by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that it intends to object to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Public Protector regarding the publication of an updated summary of Government's Ten-Year Review following the President's State of the Nation Address.
Some weeks ago the Democratic Alliance made a similar complaint and GCIS indicated that it had a responsibility to ensure that the contents of the President's State of the Nation Address are disseminated as widely as possible, in accordance with the core mandate of Government Communications. This has been done, and we will not be deterred from meeting our obligation to the public. A similar complaint was made before the 1999 elections and it did not pass muster with these institutions.
Out of respect for the IEC and the Public Protector to which the DA has addressed its complaints, we would not want to engage in this kind of public debate with a party involved in the electoral contest, and we will therefore respond formally to any correspondence addressed to us by the IEC or Public Protector.
We would however, in the interests of clarity, wish to point out that the Ten-Year Review process was conducted not by GCIS, but by the Policy, Coordination and Advisory Services in The Presidency, under the direction of Cabinet.
Enquiries
Tony Trew
Cell: 082 555 8346
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp