Staff Reporter.
Minister in The Presidency Mondli Gungubele says government is committed to building a constructive relationship with the media through forthright and robust engagement.
“We strongly believe that the media play a critical role in shaping a healthy democracy,” Gungubele said on Thursday, addressing the SADC Media Awards Dinner in Sandton, Johannesburg.
He said the media is a key player in advancing national unity and social cohesion. “Media are part of our nation’s oversight to ensure all South Africans and government are held to account,” Gungubele said.
The media play an important role in ensuring that all live up to their constitutional responsibilities.
The SADC Media Awards, Gungubele said, is a powerful tool to drive the narrative of a new Africa, one of unlimited potential and a renewed hope for a better future. “This platform has over the years provided space for critical reflection on the media environment in the SADC and the continent at large.”
He said the awards are an integral part of Africa reclaiming its own story. “The stories we tell are uniquely ours, and within them are tales of hope and change for the better,” he said.
Gungubele said the SADC Media Awards are much more than just a competition which boast an impressive annual cash prize.
“There is no better ways to foster regional integration than the sharing of good news stories that contribute towards regional integration. We have the important task of communicating in the languages that our people speak and in a manner they understand.
“We have a duty to inform the people of the region about the economic integration of Africa through the Agenda 2063,” Gungubele said.
Gungubele said the manner in which Africa portray its region becomes ever more important given the social and economic challenges it faces.
“Southern Africa has not escaped the trail of devastation left by the COVID-19 pandemic. Coupled with the recent downturn in advanced economies, tighter financial conditions and volatile commodity prices, the social and economic gains we have made as a region over the years have been undermined,” Gungubele said.
The role of the media and communication has never been more important.
“Massive changes are occurring in the media landscape and the shift to new technologies and forms of communication are providing challenges to how we communicate.
“The media landscape is more fractured than it is has ever been and threats of fake news and misinformation are the order of the day,” Gungubele said.