Spin doctor has eyes on better links with media

Bay executive sets out priorities for role as Trollip’s top PR official Cementing what he believes is an already-solid relationship between media houses and Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip’s office will top the list of priorities for new mayoral spin doctor Sibongile Dimbaza. Dimbaza, 37, a former journalist and public relations consultant, said he would focus on ensuring mayoral programmes were properly communicated to the public. It is a political appointment linked to Trollip’s five-year term in office. “There is already a solid communication between his [Trollip’s] office and some media houses. “My job now is to ensure mayoral programmes are fully communicated to every media house in the city. “We will ensure we maximise our engagement with the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay.” Dimbaza said he was excited about his new role, considering that he would be sharing his knowledge and skills with the community of Port Elizabeth where he was born and bred.

As a former journalist of The Herald and its sister publication Weekend Post, Dimbaza covered municipal stories extensively. Now he wants to assist the municipality in conveying both municipal messages and politics to the general public in and around the Bay. “I also want to see to it that I maximise the communication part and that mayoral programmes are well communicated. “I am looking forward to this journey, working with people and building links with key stakeholders,” he said. Dimbaza, who officially started work yesterday, said he had gone through the normal recruitment process before he was appointed. His position was, however, not advertised as the appointment of a mayoral spokesman can be made at the discretion of the mayor. Between 2004 and 2010, Dimbaza worked as a senior journalist for the Times Media Group and was based in Port Elizabeth. He later joined Meropa Communications for two years, providing public relations services to the Coega Development Corporation until 2013. Between January and May, Dimbaza served as content manager for Boomtown Brand Strategy Agency where he provided oversight on Ubuntu Magazine, a municipal publication He later joined a non-profit organisation, Beyond Zero, in East London where he headed the communications unit for three years.