The Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) has announced a partnership with the national broadcaster SABC, in order to intensify government communications, strengthen, and upscale the working relationship between the two entities.
According to Destea, the MEC Thabo Meeko held an engagement session with the Free State and Northern Cape Management team from the SABC.
“We welcome the engagement session and critical issues put on a table. As government communications, we need you to communicate departmental programmes and messages to the people of the Free State and the country,” the MEC said.
“For example, eating breakfast is an economic matter because the SMMEs selling tomatoes should understand and be informed of economics through our communications machinery, for example how the increased interest rate is going to affect his or her business in terms of transportation of goods, pricing, etc.,” explained MEC Meeko.
He further highlighted the importance of communications being treated as a “systematic and scientific tool to the visible implementation of government programmes because government information sharing is a constitutional mandate.”
The head of the SABC in the Free State and Northern Cape, Mandla Mbusi, said the national broadcaster sees Destea as an information hub for the economy, SMMEs development, tourism, and environmental affairs, especially on waste management and green economy.
“Therefore, continuous engagements will go a long way in bridging the gap between stakeholders and the SABC. We are committed as the public broadcaster to play a role in educating, informing our people as well as entertaining them,” Mbusi concluded.
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
