Mothogoane Sokutu Trading PTY LTD is a BEE owned company that offers services ranging from corporate communications, lobbying, stakeholder management to property development.Sokutu's role is to drive strategy formulation and implementation, tapping into business, media, Government and strategic political contacts he has built over years to grow the company.

Stakeholder Management - dealing with key and strategic stakeholders (communities, famers, Government, business) especially on capital projects.Corporate Communications - all aspects of communications which include media relations, publications and employee communication Corporate videos and documentaries - script writing and voicing

Lobbying - lobbying farmers, communities, Government, business and other key stakeholders to support the strategic objectives and operational plans of the Swaziland Rail Link project - a multi-billion rand rail venture between South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland. With public percetion of the project having now been swayed from negative to positive, objectives were met and lobbying became a success. Farmers in Mpumalanga's forestry-rich Lothair who were initially opposed to the project were successfully lobied - something which culminated in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Transnet on 26 August 2014. Averting such a backlash saved the project money, litigation and delays.Other milestones were:Creating awareness of the project through public meetings, media and other platforms.Ensuring that community liaison structures are created to give communities and key stakeholders a voice.Securing stakeholder buy-in.

Media statements - the job entailed writing media statements on political, social and economic issues - among others - to make South Africa and the world aware of the ANC's policy positions and reaction to issues and events.Media briefings - inviting journalists and co-ordinating media briefings was another key responsibility.Being the spokesperson - meant fielding questions from print, radio and broadcasting media on behalf of the ANC.

Media - writing press statements for COSATU and assisting affilite unions during media briefings.COSATU Today - co-ordinating, editing and writing articles for COSATU's online publication.COSATU and affiliate media meetings - being part of meetings attended by affiliate spokespersons and publications editors.

Strategy - developing an internal communications strategy and plan for employees.Counsel - providing advice on employee communicationPublications - overseeing and co-ordinating editorial content of Eskom News (internal publication).Face-to-face communication - co-ordinating visits by Eskom CE to employee operational engagements.

Publications - I became editor of Our Voice, an internal publication that reflected the views of management, employees and labour. The publication was widely distributed within the company, especially at mining operations in the North West and Limpopo. The publication enjoyed the support of all trade unions with membership in mining.Face-to-face communication - I co-ordinated and accompanied the Chief Executive to address workers on key issues which included safety, production and on policies.Strategy - was responsible for the internal communications strategy and plan.

I served as three Cabinet minister as spokesperson during South Africa's first democratically-elected Government of National Unity led by President Nelson Mandela and during Thabo Mbeki's reign. I worked with ministers Thoko Didiza (Agriculture), Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi (Welfare and Population) and the late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (Communications).Press statements - writing and disseminating press statements to the local and international media.Media briefings - chairing all media briefings addressed by ministers.Interviews - being interviewed by the media on policy issues.OPED - writing opinion pieces for ministers.Counsel - giving advice on media matters.

News Reporting - reporting on social, business and political issues in South Africa.Sub-editing - editing copy from stringers and writing issued press releases into news stories.

Assignments - assigning reporters and correspondents to cover stories in various parts of South Africa.Debriefing - debriefing reporters on news angles to take.Writing - reporting on key political stories in South Africa such as the assassination of ANC leader Chris Hani; death of ANC stalwarts Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu; political violence in KwaZulu-Natal and in the PWV (now called Gauteng) and the swearing in of Nelson Mandela as President of a democratic South Africa.Editing - editing of news stories before they are sent to sub-editors.

News gathering - being assigned to the field to cover news of major national importance.Writing - writing hard news and features.Key stories - among key political stories covered were the return of political exiles; Boipatong Massacre; hostel and train violence.

Reporting to News Editor Gabu Tugwana, I was appointed by the late Zwelekhe Sisulu to become Eastern Cape Bureau Chief of the New Nation newspaper.The meant coverage of all political events in the province.