Parliament, Wednesday, 29 March 2017 – The Portfolio Committee on Communications has raised serious concerns with a number of issues leading to low staff morale at the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA). The Committee visited the entity yesterday as part of its week-long oversight visit to Gauteng.

Issues raised by staff members were related to outdated policies, job grading inconsistencies, lack of open and transparent internal communication, insufficient funding, and vacant chief operating officer and human resource manager positions.

“The Board cannot expect the entity to operate smoothly when there is a complete lack of interaction between management and staff members. It is our considered view that such an environment is unhealthy for the workers,” said Committee Chairperson Mr Humphrey Maxegwana.

He said that the Board needs to fix the critical issue of internal communication and staff meetings urgently and report back to the Committee within two weeks. Other issues will be addressed to the Board in writing and feedback will be expected by the end of constituency period on 2 May 2017. 

Meanwhile, the Committee was impressed by high staff morale at both the Department of Communications and the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS), despite challenges.

Staff members assured the Committee that they were determined to do their job, because they understood there was little management could do about the budget. They proposed that legislation be introduced to make it a statutory obligation that all government departments coordinate their communications through GCIS. 

“The Committee will deliberate further on all the issues raised and compile a report with clear recommendations,” said Mr Maxegwana.

The Committee will today visit the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the Films and Publications Board (FPB). Tomorrow, Thursday 30 March 2017, it will visit the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), where the Committee will meet with the new Interim Board for the first time.

ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS, MR HUMPHREY MAXEGWANA 

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:

Name: Mr Justice Molafo
Parliamentary Communication Services
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E-mail: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za