By Thys Khiba – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed he is pleased to appoint a seasoned communicator Vincent Magwenya as his spokesperson with effect from Wednesday, 1 June.
“I am pleased to welcome Vincent Magwenya to the Presidency team. His experience, insight and capabilities will strengthen our efforts to effectively communicate the work of the Presidency as we undertake the work of recovery and rebuilding,” said Ramaphosa.
This comes after the president appointed Tyrone Seale as the acting spokesperson since July 2020.
“I wish to express my gratitude to Tyrone Seale for having acted in the position of spokesperson to the President since July 2020. His capable manner and dedication to the task has been widely acknowledged and is much appreciated,” said Ramaphosa.
Magwenya has previously served as spokesperson for former President Jacob Zuma from 2009 to 2010.
Ramaphosa has been without a permanent appointed spokesperson for at least two years now.
This is after he fired Khusela Diko as his spokesperson who failed to disclose her interests in certain companies, as required by public service regulations on the disclosure of financial interests.
“The action taken by the presidency management was in compliance with a recommendation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) that Ms Diko be disciplined for her failure to disclose certain interests,” said Minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele.
Gungubele confirmed the recommendation came after the SIU investigation into government’s procurement of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE).
The newly appointed spokesperson, Magwenya was CEO of PR agency Magna Carta from 2013 to 2016, before establishing and serving as CEO of Conversations Media and Communications.
He has served as Director of Communications for Standard Bank Africa and Director of Group Stakeholder Relations for Standard Bank Group.
Magwenya will be expected to work with different media houses as a former broadcast journalist.
He worked for international and local broadcasters such as Reuters Television, Worldwide Television News (now known as Associated Press Television News), Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
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