THE CONTROVERSIAL OF THE PROTECTION OF INFORMATION BILL

The Mail & Guardian today (Friday 30/03/2012) published an article regarding the allegations against crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli,The investigation done by the Mail & Guardian which led to the discovering of sensitive report could have led the Editor and the Journalist who did the investigation to face 5 to 25 years jail imprisonment if the so called "Protection of Information was already functioning. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-30-the-mdluli-report.
If government wants to combat against corruption why are they busy trying to push the implementation of this bill ( Protection of Information Bill )or they further want to hide sensitive information about corruption?

Protection of Information Bill  aims to regulate the classification, protection and dissemination of the state information, thus those who are found in possession of classified information will  face a 5 to 25 years jail imprisonment.Therefore this bill will restrict journalist to hold government accountable of  hidden corruption. My take with regards to this issue is that all the stakeholders including the government must find another better way of dealing with unlawful disclosure of information and stop corruption and lastly LEAVE ALONE journalist to do their job.

RELEASE YOUR VOICE

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA'S IMAGE IS IN A DEEP MUD

With  no doubt the the image of Cricket South Africa is in a deep MUD and (CSA) has lost its reputattion amongst cricket supportters over bonus scandal because of few "prominent" individulas CSA senior members namely Mr A.K Khan, Mr John Blair and the controversial Mr Gerald Majola.

The country’s cricket head(Gerald Majola)  has been fighting for survival since it was revealed in August 2010 that he and about 40 other employees received millions of rands in unauthorised bonuses for hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament and the Champions’ Trophy in 2009.
Judge Chris Nicholson found there was “overwhelming evidence” that Majola had contravened the Companies Act. He recommended that he not only be suspended for 180 days and appear before a disciplinary committee, but that the National Prosecuting Authority should also look into the possibility of criminal charges against him. http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=78003.

The  challenge that is facing the CSA Public Relations department is to bring back the lost reputable image of the association,the question is how are they going to persuade cricket lovers to trust them again.The former CSA president Dr Mthuthuzeli Nyoka is believed that he was requested to vacate his position becuase he exposed the wrongdoings of the CSA members within the association.
http://zeenews.india.com/cricket/icl/story.aspx?nid=38200

The question that arises to my mind is  that as Public Relations Practioners do we have power to protect those who are anti-corruption whistle blowers for the sake of protecting the organization's image.If so why did Dr majola was fired then or problably our powers as PRP's are limited by "Senior members"?

THUMBS UP TO THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA.

On Monday March 2012  the Star newspaper reported that the Deputy President of South Africa Mr Kgalema Mothlanthe has requested the Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela to do an investigation following the Sunday  media report regarding his partner Gugu Mtshali being allegedly linked  to buy government appproval for a plan to sell helicopters in Iran. Apart from the allegations about his partner I would like to congratulate Mr Kgalema Mothlanthe and his Communication team for quickly responding to these allegation by requesting the Public Protector to do a probe.Their immediate action showed that his communication team knows much about the importancy of image and brand protection.

Where are the Labour Brokers representatives?

COSATU's MARCH

On the 07th March 2012, the Congress of South African Union (COSATU) had a march around South Africa's major cities.The march was about the controversial E-tolling System and "Labour Brokers".Judging  from the turn out of the marchers it's clear that South African citizens wants Labour Brokers to be dealt away with.
According to the  survey conducted by Topline Research Solutions using client databases provided by the Confederation of Associations in the Private Employment Sector (CAPES). Topline conducted surveys of 110 labour brokers, representing 268,777 labour broker workers or 29.8% of the industry total.85 % of  labour brokers are privately owned, with 61%/39% split between males and females.
The question Am asking myself is that the organization that is representing labour brokers what is it that  is doing to clear the bad perception and image that South african citizens have about them , is their PR department doing enough regarding Brand awareness about labour brokers?.
http://moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page292681?oid=527437&sn=2009+Detail&pid=287226