Minister Khumbudzo Ntshaveni tables 2023/24 GCIS Budget Vote
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni tabled the 2023/24 Government Communications Information System (GCIS) Budget Vote earlier today, 16 May 2023, to the National Assembly. The Budget Vote outlined plans and priorities for the GCIS for this financial year.
Minister Ntshaveni reflected on this year’s 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day and the impact of economic constraints on media freedom.
“The political freedom media enjoys is severely contrasted by the economic constraints facing this sector. The National Development Plan acknowledges that access to information through print, broadcasting and electronic media is vital for an informed citizenry and economic development,” said Ntshaveni.
“However, the decline in advertising revenues and circulation figures is one of the biggest challenges faced by the private sector and the community media alike. The long-term sustainability of any medium is critical for the GCIS as government relies on these platforms to disseminate government information to the citizens,” she added.
Ntshaveni announced that the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) would increase its support for community media to ensure that the sector remains sustainable in the digital age. She also said that the GCIS aimed to ensure the sustainability of the advertising sector as well through the Marketing, Advertising and Communication (MAC) Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Charter Council, which was appointed and launched in March 2022.
“The MDDA will work with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) on the training and the participation of community media on the NEMISA Streaming Platform,” remarked Ntshaveni.
“We appointed and launched The MAC B-BBEE Charter Council as our response to a call by Parliament to transform and sustain the advertising sector.”
Ntshaveni said the GCIS also celebrates three decades of the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) in 2023.
“This year, we celebrate 30 years since the establishment of the NCRF which gives communities access to 200 locally relevant radio stations, which broadcast stories relevant to their needs and broadcast in the languages of their choices.”
The GCIS has a budget allocation of R750.7 million for the 2023/24 financial year and R782.8 million for 2024/25. The 2023/24 budget will be allocated as follows:
Transfers and subsidies to the Entities: R256.6 million (34%) – of which R219 526 million is for Brand SA and R37 039 million is for the Media Development and Diversity Agency;
Capital budget (1% of GCIS budget): R8.2 million;
Goods and Services (27%): R201.8 million; and
Compensation of Employees (38%): R284.1 million.
You may read the full speech here.