27 – 28 June 2024

University of Johannesburg Business School

South Africa’s journey towards democracy has been remarkable, but it has also been filled with many challenges.

As the nation commemorates 30 years of democracy in 2024, the Summit is a great opportunity to mark this historic occasion reflectively, celebrate the achievements, and express appreciation for the journey towards freedom, equality, and justice of South Africa’s people over the past three decades.

Theme for the 2024 Social Media Summit is:

Deepening Democracy – Citizen Engagement in the Digital Age

2024 SUMMIT – WHAT TO EXPECT

International Keynote Speaker
2 Days, 10+ Sessions and 4 Practical Workshops
Strategic insights and robust discussions from PR & Comms experts and academics
Connect and network with peers and experts

Are you a senior public sector and government communicator?

Join us at the second annual Social Media Summit for Government to discuss critical issues and trends in digital communication with experts and academics and develop solutions and action plans to address them.

conveners

Lorato Tshenkeng

Founder & CEO – Decode Communications

Professor Mandla Radebe

Executive Director – Centre for Data & Digital Communications at University of Johannesburg

2024 SUMMIT Speakers

Nanjira Sambuli

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Rams Mabote

DECODE COMMUNICATIONS
Executive Chairman

Happy Ngidi

Proudly South African
Chief Marketing Officer

Dr Randall Carolissen

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG BUSINESS SCHOOL
Dean

Prof Nicole Stremlau

OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Head: Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy

Onke Dumeko

NATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FOUNDATION
Head of Operations

Dr Thina Nzo

PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PARI)
Senior Researcher

Anwar Jappie

GOOGLE SOUTH AFRICA

Head of Industry

Dr Anele Mdzikwa

RIANETTE LEIBOWITZ
Founder & Cyber Wellness and Online Safety author & speaker

Matalane Ngobeni

BRAND SOUTH AFRICA
Manager: Digital and New Media

Phuti Mothapo

PUBLIC RELATIONS INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (PRISA)
President

Dr Karabo Sitto-Kaunda

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
Associate Professor

Regomoditswe Mavimbela

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GCIS) Deputy Director-General: Content Processing and Dissemination

Senzeni Ngubane

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GCIS)

Acting Director: Digital Media

Tumelo Komape

CITY OF JOHANNESBURG

Deputy Director: Digital

Mahlatse Rampjapedi

SABC
Acting Digital Marketing Manager

Tumi Matlou

MELTWATER

Growth Executive Director

Dr Lakela Kaunda

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
Deputy Director-General: Administration

2023 speakers

2024 PROGRAMME

TIMING	THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2024
08H00 – 08H45	ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION
08H50 – 09H00	OPENING by Lorato Tshenkeng, Founder & CEO: Decode Communications
09H05 – 09H15	WELCOME by Dr Randall Carolissen, Dean: Johannesburg Business School: University of Johannesburg
09H20 – 09H30	CONTEXT SETTING by Prof Mandla Radebe, Executive Director: Centre for Data and Digital Communications: University of Johannesburg
09H35 – 10H00	KEYNOTE ADDRESS Nanjira Sambuli, Policy Analyst and Researcher. A fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
10H05 – 10H30	In Conversation with the Keynote Moderated by Lorato Tshenkeng
10H35 – 11H00	HEALTH BREAK
11H05 – 11H10	Citizens’ Perspectives Reel
11H15 – 12H45	PANEL DISCUSSION 1 – Moderated by Prof Mandla Radebe TOPIC: Strategic Comms, Innovation scaling within government communications Panellists Happy Ngidi, Chief Marketing Officer: Proudly South African Onke Dumeko, Head of Operations: National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Senzeni Ngubane, Acting Director: Digital Media, Government Communication & Information Systems (GCIS)
12H50 – 12H55	HUMOUR BREAK
13H00 – 13H30	PRESENTATION – CENTRE FOR DATA AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS Internet Shutdowns in Africa: A Growing Threat by Prof Mandla Radebe, Executive Director: Centre for Data and Digital Communications, University of Johannesburg
13H35 – 14H15	LUNCH BREAK
14H20 – 15H00	DISCUSSION SESSIONS WITH OUTCOMES Good Governance Africa – how to encourage responsible and active citizenship with vigilance against Mis and Disinformation? City of Joburg – how to successfully use technology platforms to improve efficiency and save government money? Futurelect – Building Active Citizenship And Ethical Leadership For Effective Public Service Through Effective Digital And Practical Strategies
15H05 – 15H10	HUMOUR BREAK
15H15 – 15H45	REPORT BACK TO PLENARY
15H50 – 16H20	INSIGHTS & TRENDS PRESENTATION – GOOGLE South African Media Landscape by Anwar Jappie, Head of Industry: Google South Africa
16H25 – 16H35	WRAP UP by Prof Mandla Radebe
16H40 – 16H50	CLOSURE by Lorato Tshenkeng

TIMING	FRIDAY, 28 JUNE 2024
08H00 – 08H25	ARRIVAL
08H30 – 08H50	WELCOME AND RECAP OF DAY 1 by Lorato Tshenkeng
08H55 – 09H15	Perspective on the role of public sector communication by Prof Sifiso Mnisi, Head of School: Communication: UJ
09H20 – 09H50	INSIGHTS PRESENTATION – UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA Promises and Perils for AI in Public Sector Communication by Dr Karabo Sitto-Kaunda, Associate Professor: University of Pretoria
09H55 – 10H55	PANEL DISCUSSION 2 – Moderated by Rams Mabote, Executive Chairman: Decode Communications TOPIC: The state of digital communication skills in government and how it impacts citizen engagement Panellists Dr Lakela Kaunda, National School of Government Phuthi Mothapo, President: Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) Regomoditswe Mavimbela, Deputy Director-General: Content Processing and Dissemination, GCIS
11H05 – 11H35	HEALTH BREAK
11H40 – 13H00	PANEL DISCUSSION 3 TOPIC: Enabling responsible citizen engagement on social media Panellists Matalane Ngobeni, Manager: Digital and New Media, Brand South Africa Rianette Leibowitz, Founder and MD: SaveTNet Cyber Safety Dr Thina Nzo, Senior Researcher: PARI Mahlatse Rampjapedi, Acting Digital Marketing Manager: SABC Digital
13H05 – 13H55	LUNCH BREAK
14H00 – 14H50	BEST PRACTICE PRESENTATION – NFVF Leveraging Social Media Capital to Communicate the Work and Impact of Government Initiatives + Q&A By Onke Dumeko, Head of Operations at the National Film & Video Foundation
14H55 – 15H35	INSIGHTS & TRENDS PRESENTATION – MELTWATER Social Listening for Government by Tumi Matlou, Growth Executive: Meltwater Africa
15H40 – 15H50	WRAP UP by Lorato Tshenkeng
15H55 – 16H00	CLOSURE by Rams Mabote
16H00 TILL LATE	Networking & Cocktails

Our PARTNERS

The Social Media Summit for Government is powered by the Gauteng Tourism Authority.

The Gauteng Tourism Authority is agency that works in close collaboration with regional and local government structures to advance the positioning of Gauteng as a Global City Region whilst seeking to achieve a joined-up government approach to harmonising tourism promotion and management in the province.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Are you interested in partnering with us?
Request the prospectus below to identify the best opportunity for you.

Contact us

VENUE

We are excited to host the Summit at the The JBS, as an innovative, future-focused business school with a human focus, committed ensuring the graduates can apply their knowledge of digital transformation to compete effectively in the modern economy.

JBS Park
69 Kingsway Avenue
Auckland Park
Johannesburg