Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi will cut spending on marketing and advertising to save the department money, his department said on Thursday.

"In light of the harsh conditions posed by the economic slowdown, Minister Richard Baloyi has directed that all future spending on advertising and marketing on newspapers, commercial radios and television by the department should be aggressively curtailed," a statement read.

The department spent R12-million in the 2008/9 financial year for advertising and marketing and a further R1,2-million during the period ending October 31, 2009.

"We remain firm in the conviction that government funds should be directed at the practical implementation of delivery of services to the people and minimise spending on all areas where it's avoidable."

The department would rather use the public broadcaster and community radio stations to inform the public of its programmes.