Zumaville or New York City of Kwa-Zulu Natal



The development nicknamed Zumaville by the media:
A project that is set to be benefitial. (www.mg.co.za)



Does South Africa want to be the joke of the continent or the world? The government is planning a R2 billion town in President Jacob Zuma’s home village, Nkandla. This development is said to be a rural development by spokesperson Mac Maharaj. This development has already been criticised  by many political people saying that this project is just to benefit Zuma and his family above the priorities of South African citizens.

The former president of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, accused President Zuma of building “New York City of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Nkandla however this project is an idea by Masibambisane development initiative which is co-chaired by President Zuma read more

The name of the project is Umlazi-Nkandla Smart Growth Centre which is expected to have:

·         A new school with boarding facilities

·         A recreation centre featuring a swimming pool and tennis courts

·         Government facilities, including offices for home affairs and social development

·         New community facilities including a library, theatre and recreation centre

Now this project will be sponsored by private sector sponsors like Old Mutual and by the millions of South Africans who pay their tax. The government is also expected to contribute by a billion.

Is this a scheme or what? This project shows that in South Africa developments or projects are taken more seriously than poverty, education or health.  A democratic country has a lot to embrace but not by mis-using money and claiming that it is beneficial. The image that is communicated and created is that President Jacob Zama’s projects come first and this means we are a lost nation because of our leader. Where is the public relations expertise when you need one, because certainly the government is succeeding at building the most negative ideas for the citizens?

SABC launches its 24 hour news channel

The SABC logo: Embraced with the colours of the flag.
(sauce: www.google.co.za)

 Reading my daily newspaper, I got to discover that SABC will be launching a 24 hour news channel. The news channel will be sponsored by DStv read more. The SABC is taken as the public broadcast because of its affordability compared to its competitor DStv or toptv. “We are ready”, said Lulama Makhobo the group CEO, on Monday. The news channel will however be firstly available on DStv and then on digital terrestrial television later on.

 Now, SABC launching a 24 hour news channel seems extreme because:

• The SABC is already repeating programmes from the olden days like Yizo Yizo or Bophelo ke Semphego
• The many viewers of SABC are not able to pay their TV licenses



Ready to tranform: Group CEO, Lulama Makhobo assured
the media that the SABC is ready for this one.
(sauce: www.channel24.co.za)



Already the  government is getting publicity from the SABC news that are being broadcast for 30 minutes every day  in all the 3 channels,  because when it comes to the government an angle is applied.  The government is being portrayed in the best way possible, although negative stories are reported like the Angie Motshekga saga or corruption within the government, but not everything is revealed.

Come the elections, what is being broadcast is about what the ruling party is doing or has done to make a better living for the people, and less about other parties. Doesn’t this show favoritism of the ruling party? It is so obvious that the government will be framed in the best way ever.

I therefore think that the SABC is doing this to gain the focus of the audience to ANC. Yes the nation needs to be informed, but at the end of the day this is business, and publicity is on top of the list.

Our sports people and their communication



We love and support our people: The ladies hockey team
celebrating their victory.(sauce: www.google.com)



It is the London Olympics at this time of the year. The Olympics, which started in 776 B.C, occur once every 4 years, almost each and every country is participating or representing. People are talking about Olympics -if they are not they must be ignorant. Communication is the most key in this whole event. Now think about this: You are an athlete from South Africa, Portugal or Spain and you find that you do not know English.

If you are from Britain or USA you have the very most advantage because English is the mother- tongue language or home language.Well... Obviously the government or the planners of this event are aware of this and get to hire translators.

  

Yes, we should embrace our mother-tongue but up to what extent? According to The Economist of 12 January 2011, there was once a motion posed by the South African government that kids in schools should be taught in their mother- tongue language read more. I mean how can you do mathematics in your mother- tongue language? The next best thing you know, you are in tertiary and do not know how to communicate with your peers.  Going for an interview is going to be even harder. Well... These sports people are representing their own countries, but how they communicate has an effect on their image and the younger generation. Playing sports and excelling in it is a talent, it’s a God- given talent, but bear in mind that you have fans that look up to you. Yes there are brands that invest in our respective sports people or sponsor them but communication is just the main objective here.



 One of our best athletes on the 2012 team: Caster Semenya,
giving a confident pose. (sauce: www.google.com) 



I find it disturbing if a well-known sports person especially from South Africa, to be so talented but yet failing to communicate in a proper manner... But who am I to judge, because we all have different gifts? The question posed is, how well do our sports people know the medium of instruction or is it a necessity for them to only know their mother-tongue and not care about English?

The women's month, taken as an opportunity



Avon makes a difference at the walkathon event to raise funds:
Over 30 00 people participate to help women diagnosed with
breast cancer (sauce: www.avon.co.za)

 It is a women’s month and a lot of organisations are doing a lot to seem like a helping organisation especially about breast cancer. Organisations like Avon which has events that are held to empower women to look good and feel better and even have walkathons to generate massive awareness of breast cancer. There are even tertiary organisations like SPRA (Student Public Relations Association) based at UJ ( University of Johannesburg)which are making a difference by volunteering in communities.

Giving back with a smile: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
sees giving back in the society as a collective effort.
 (www.thegivingorganisation.org)

The only question might be: Are organisations giving back to be seen as caring? Is it altruism in the making or Corporate Social Investment? The industry of Public Relations and Communications requires an organisation to keep abreast, giving is optional but wouldn’t you do so to get the people's loyalty or your target audiences’ positive perception. Do organisations do this because they want to or are they forced to?

Princess Charlene of Monaco will be co-patron with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at The Giving Organisation to give back, this is a collaborative South African good cause organisation.

  One of the biggest and growing ways in giving back to the society was/ is Mandela day. A lot of companies, brands, organisations or even celebrities where giving their 67 minutes.  The University of Johannesburg also contributed to Mandela day, the question is still pending.



Her highness provides a helping hand: Princess
Charlene and her husband. (www.thegivingorganisation.org)

Back to August being a women’s month, an opportunity is out there for organisations to give a helping hand besides expecting anything in return or publicity. Events like ‘Take a girl child to work day’ or ‘Women empowerment’ within undeveloped or developing areas are the key to be seen as caring read more. As a young woman I feel privileged that my “being” is being celebrated but would not want it to be taken for granted for a mere beneficiary scheme.

Organisations are trying but... Is it because they are forced to? Just to have a good image in the public sphere.