Report the good story, says Vhembe District Executive mayor

Executive mayor says some good stories of service delivery success remain unreported

The Village Voice

Vhembe District Municipality Executive mayor Freda Nkondo says there are many good stories of service delivery success that remains unreported and members of the community who gave the government the mandate to lead are not aware of those.
Speaking at Malamulele Community hall on Tuesday during the Vhembe District Community forum event, Nkondo called on the media to up the ante in reporting stories of government successes.

“We understand the media’s role in giving the community news and do the best in giving information to the people. Speaking for myself as a woman executive mayor, I have been able to eradicate illegal water connections in various areas of the municipality but this information has not been reported anywhere ,” the said.
Presentations were made by warrant officer Dathi of the South African police on crime in the district, Vhembe district’s media liaison officer Moses Shibambu on the state of communications in Vhembe and Maxelo Radio’s Mchavi M on the state of media in the district.
Mr Doctrine Netshikweta from the Government Information services presented on the Government of National Unity and how the government hoped the media’s approach to stories should be.

Veteran journalist Mashudu Dagada said journalists are not supposed to report stories in favouring the government at the expense of the people but must report fairly.
He said when journalists expose the plight of the people some politicians say the media is decampaigning them which is not the case, Dagada added.

Collins Chabane Local Municipality councillor Elvis Lebea, who represented mayor Shadrack Maluleke said the Municipality appreciated the media because it can make or break a politician.

Ms Sheila Baloyi from the Cooperative governance, housing and traditional affairs urged government communications to have a way of dealing with journalists.
“You must always be willing to comment when they send queries because if you do not, they will just write the information at their disposal and the chances are that you will get negative reports,” she said.