letters to the editor - Department of Defence

S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2006SA Soldier sweepsGovernment AwardsBy Sgt Lebohang Letaoana (anextract of what was published in SASoldier: January 2006, page 16)Photo: courtesy GCISSA Soldier, the official monthlymagazine of the Department ofDefence, had the opportunityto participate in the annualprestigious GovernmentCommunicators' Awards,which were held at GallagherEstates in Midrand on 2 December2005.On that beautiful evening SA Soldierswept two awards - the NationalUbungcweti Award and the biggest ofthem all - the Government Communicatorof the Year Award. "Ubungcweti"is the IsiZulu word for excellence, andthis award recognises excellence inwriting, editorial content, layout anddesign. It also caters for photography,broadcasting and for contestants fromthe new media, such as the Intranetand Internet. The main award - theGovernment Communicator of the YearAward - recognises excellence in allareas of Government communication.The winner was chosen from among allthe finalists in the other categories. DrEssop Pahad, Minister in thePresidency, initiated these awards in2002. He wanted to recognise andreward top Government communicatorswho went beyond the call of dutyin delivering their mandate to communicatethe work of the Government. Theawards were for improved delivery,innovation and excellence in theGovernment communications profession- and to encourage communicatorsto work hard. Mr Manelisi Wolela,Deputy Commissioner ofThe Government Awards were initiated to recogniseand reward top Government communicators whowent beyond the call of duty in delivering their mandateto communicate the work of the Government.The SA Soldier team won the Government Communicator of theYear Award and the National Ubungcweti Award, fltr: Sgt LebohangLetaoana, Nomonde Vuthela, Werner van der Westhuizen, CPODennis Ndaba, F Sgt David Nomtshongwana, Mr Dali Mpofu, CEOSABC, Nelda Pienaar and Dr Essop Pahad, Minister in thePresidency.Communications of the Department ofCorrectional Services, won theNational Bua Award. Bua means "tospeak" in Setswana. This award categorycaters for ministerial liaison officers,departmental spokespersons and individualcommunicators who displaycourage, commitment, dedication anddiscipline in their work.Another member of the SANDF whomade the organisation proud was ColMarthie Visser, SSO DefenceCorporate Communication Strategy,Policy and Planning, who won theTop Student Award for ProfessionalCertificate in GovernmentCommunications and Marketing(PCGCM). The PCGCM aims to providean overview of the theory andpractice of public sector management,with specific focus on communicationsand marketing in a developingcountry context.32• M A Y 2 0 1 1