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Government Communication and Information System

Agency overview
Formed	18 May 1998; 26 years ago (1998-05-18)
Preceding Agency	South African Communication Service
Type	Communication co-ordinator
Jurisdiction	Government of South Africa
Headquarters	Tshedimosetso House Hatfield, Pretoria
Annual budget	R 757.430 million (2021/22)
Minister responsible	Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency
Agency executive	Michael Currin (acting), Director-General
Website	gcis.gov.za

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is an agency of the South African government charged with coordinating, managing, and advising on all government communication with the public, including media liaison. It is a unit in the Office of the President and falls under the political authority of the Minister in the Presidency. The head of GCIS is the director-general of the department and the official spokesperson of the South African government.

The corporation was established on 18 May 1998 in terms of Section 7 (subsections 2 and 3) of the Public Service Act, 1994. It replaced the apartheid-era South African Communication Service.

List of directors-general

• Joel Netshitenzhe (1998–2006)
• Themba Maseko (2006–2011)
• Mzwanele Manyi (2011–2012)
• Phumla Williams (2020–2022)

Criticism

In 2023, GCIS was reported to start its own streaming service at a cost of R1 billion. This is in addition to the Department of Social Development spending a portion of its budget on its own streaming service (DSDTV).

References

1. "History and background of Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)". Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). Retrieved 23 May 2023.
2. "Government jettisons Jimmy Manyi". The Mail & Guardian. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
3. "Phumla Williams finally gets the nod for top government communications position". Sunday Times. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
4. "Phumla Williams resigns as head of GCIS". Business Day. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
5. "South African government spending R1 billion on streaming service — Report".
6. "We tested the South African government's "DSDTV" streaming video channel".

External links

• GCIS

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Agencies with department status	Government Communication and Information System Independent Police Investigative Directorate National School of Government Office of the Chief Justice Public Service Commission Statistics South Africa

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