Central SA
GCIS launches nationwide outreach ahead of Sona 2026─── REFILWE BEKANE 15:00 Fri, 30 Jan 2026
As South Africa prepares for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on 12 February, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has launched a national outreach campaign.
It aims to connect communities directly to the heart of governance. The provincial activations began on Friday (30 January) across all Free State districts, from the taxi ranks of Sasolburg to the rural corners of Thabo Mofutsanyana.
The sessions aim to unpack the administration’s progress and highlight its roadmap for the year ahead.
“It’s very important that communities are aware of what is happening, what the planned programme is, so that they are able to follow through,” said GCIS provincial manager Yolisa Blom.
Bringing message home
While Sona is traditionally hosted at Cape Town City Hall, Blom emphasised the venue is simply a backdrop. The real impact lies in how the address reaches and influences local communities.
The campaign is being rolled out in phases. It began with pre-mobilisation activities on Friday, followed by radio sessions profiling beneficiaries of government programmes.
On the day of the address, in-person public education sessions will take place in community halls to allow for real-time engagement and discussion.
With youth unemployment a pressing challenge, GCIS is using these activations to link young people with economic opportunities, business funding and career resources.
In addition to traditional outreach, the department has introduced new tools. These include a WhatsApp group for unemployed youth, where job ads and public service circulars are shared directly with those who register at GCIS information centres.
Despite these efforts, public trust remains fragile due to ongoing service delivery failures. The government has acknowledged these concerns but urges communities to remain involved.
The GCIS provincial manager, Yolisa Blom. Photo supplied
“My personal message is that by working together, we can build stronger and more resilient communities. We need to unite and see how we move forward as we build towards local government elections,” Blom added.
Residents who wish to stay informed about GCIS initiatives, job opportunities and government programmes can follow GCIS Free State Provincial on social media.
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