Why Zuma appointing himself head of government communications is so important: legal analyst
President Jacob Zuma has reconstituted the inter-ministerial committee on information and publicity, government confirmed in a statement on 27 March.
The committee is responsible for championing government programmes and ensuring that they are more effectively communicated to ordinary South Africans and the world at large, , noted Legalbrief analyst Pam Saxby.
The statement notes its purpose is to ‘improve the management’ of the Government Communication and Information Services ‘secretariat’ by ‘centralising’ the communications function under Minister Faith Muthambi.
The President will chair the committee, which has apparently been headed for some time by Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe – as a ‘transitional’ arrangement.
It’s ironic then that his first act as head of communications was to offer no explanation for his recall of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, notes Saxby.
“Sadly, things began rather badly yesterday with three media statements on an investment ‘roadshow’ that had just begun in London, only to be ended abruptly by President Jacob Zuma with no explanation whatsoever,” said Saxby.
“All three media statements were dated 27 March and have since been the subject of widespread speculation about an imminent Cabinet reshuffle. Interestingly, however, the ‘reconstituted’ communications committee includes Gordhan – this appointment could point to a small chance of Gordhan retaining his post.”
However she also noted that Zuma’s appointment and Gordhan’s recall had broader implications for the ANC.
“As reported earlier this year, an ANC discussion document on communications policy and the ‘battle of ideas’ released last month among other things concedes that government communications ‘from the legislature upwards’ require ‘serious attention’ and improvement.”
“Yesterday’s media statements on the aborted ‘road show’ clearly demonstrate why,” she concluded.
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