Central to this national campaign, in all 11 official languages, are the stories of seven extraordinary South Africans, who collectively embody the key elements intrinsic in the country brand. The radio adverts highlight our determination and hunger to succeed, with the "I Can. You Can. We Can. South AfriCan" jingle at the end of each advert.
This was soon followed by the TV advert, launched on Wednesday 21 May, which highlights the fact that "South Africans are creating a new dawn, every day". The central theme of the advert, "Today, I woke up to..." is carried through in the dawn footage of icons of South Africa, like President Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Zanele Situ, Archbishop Tutu and Joel Stransky.
Initial feedback from the campaign confirms that it has been well received. Here are some of the comments from both participants and media:
"I'm very proud of it and am confident it will push people to do more."
"Exciting, great advert. Proud to be part of it. I feel like a South African icon!"
"Unveiling the new nation with love and tenderness. The message is excellent! Fantastic!"
"It's beautiful and encouraging. Everyone I meet talks about it enthusiastically, especially the youth."
"I almost burst with pride when I saw and heard it. In fact, I almost burst into tears. If you haven't seen it, stay indoors and camp in front of your TV (with a box of tissues). It's that good!"
"The TV ad is simple and emotional without being saccharine sweet. You would have to have a heart of stone or layers of cynicism not to be moved."
"A timeous reminder that we live in an amazing country, populated by some amazing people. We are South Africans. Never a nation like us and never will be!"
To view the television ad or listen to the radio ads, click here.
