STATEMENT ON THE CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS
Issued by: SA Communication Service
The conference of government communicators, scheduled to be held over three days in Cape Town from the 25th August 1995 has generated some comments in the media. Some of the newspaper reports on the conference cannot be left to pass without comment.
The Mail & Guardian declared on the 21/07/95 that "Battle Looms over state info policy".
The latest report from the Argus 31/07/95 also claims that "Ramaphosa, Mbeki fight for the throne".
The Mail & Guardian alleges that the first shots have been fired in a series of behind the scenes skirmishes between government spokes people and the central state information agency, the South African Communication Services.
The Argus on the other hand alleges that, supporters of Mr Ramaphosa, Secretary General of the African National Congress have now launched an assault on one of Mr Mbeki's key powers i.e. control of government propaganda. It further claims that the confrontation is expected to come to a head at the conference.
According to the newspaper, a determined bid is to be mounted at the conference to undermine Mr Mbeki's control of government communications, while Mr Mbeki's sides are trying to take the heat off him at the conference.
These allegations are intended to create the impression that there is conflict and power struggles around the conference.
The conference is also portrayed as an arena of battle for power politics. The purpose of the conference, which is the first step in the process of formulating a government information policy has been completely ignored or overshadowed by the imagined battles.
We are further informed that the terrain of struggle centres around the control of the South African Communication Services. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In a press conference held on the 20th July 1995 at the Union Buildings, members of the Conference Preparatory Committee briefed members of the media who were present about the conference.
During the meetings that have been held with Media Liaison Officers, there has been no indication that we are involved in "behind the scenes" battles.
The Preparatory Committee has not had a sense that "knives are out between the supporters of Thabo Mbeki and Cyril Ramaphosa"
It may be possible that the writers of the articles and their sources are talking about a different conference altogether. In the meetings that The Preparatory Committee has convened the name of The Secretary General of the African National Congress, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, has never been mentter of concern that some sections of the media choose to see conflict and division where none exists. We cannot help but wonder what is the agenda? The government of National Unity is committed to accountability and transparency. Lively debates and discussion are seen as a healthy democratic practice and do not represent division and conflict.
The Preparatory Committee would like to put it on record that there are no conflicts or behind the scene battles in the preparations for conference. The allegations referred to above are the figment of an active imagination.
Any enquiries: Mr Thami Ntenteni Director: Communications Chairperson - Conference Preparatory Committee Tel: (012) 323-2505 Date: 01 August 1995