COM1511
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: AUGUST 2026
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. QUESTION 1.1: SHANNON-WEAVER COMMUNICATION MODEL 3
3. QUESTION 1.2: CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION AND
4
UBUNTU
4. QUESTION 1.3: SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION BARRIERS 7
5. QUESTION 1.4: COMMUNICATION RESPONSE PLAN 9
6. CONCLUSION 14
7. SOURCES CONSULTED 15
1
,1. INTRODUCTION
This assignment examines the Madiba Park water crisis case study through the lens of
decolonial communication principles. The case study highlights how poor communication
during a service interruption can lead to confusion, distrust, and harm within a multilingual
community. Using the theories and concepts from Learning Units 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the
COM1511 study guide, this assignment will analyse the municipality's initial
communication, identify its weaknesses, explore how social media intensified barriers,
and propose a better communication plan for future incidents.
My assignment is structured into five main questions. Question 1.1 applies the Shannon-
Weaver communication model developed by Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver
(1949) to understand what went wrong. Question 1.2 analyses the weaknesses through
culturally sensitive communication and ubuntu, drawing on the work of Nussbaum (2003)
and Ramose (2015). Question 1.3 examines how social media created communication
barriers. Question 1.4 develops a practical communication response plan. Last, Question
1.5 addresses the technical presentation requirements.
2
, 2. QUESTION 1.1: SHANNON-WEAVER COMMUNICATION MODEL
The Shannon-Weaver model is a linear communication model developed in 1949 by
Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver (Shannon & Weaver, 1949). It describes
communication as a process of transmitting information from a sender to a receiver
through a channel. As the COM1511 study guide explains, the model includes seven
elements: sender, encoding, message, channel, receiver, decoding, noise, and feedback
(COM1511 Study Guide, 2023, p.20). This section applies each element to the
municipality's initial water-interruption notice.
2.1 SENDER
The sender is the person or entity who initiates the communication process by creating a
message (COM1511 Study Guide, 2023, p.21). In this case, the sender was the local
municipality. According to Shannon and Weaver (1949), the sender is responsible for
encoding the message and selecting the appropriate channel. The municipality posted the
notice on its website, which means the municipal communication officials or department
were responsible for creating and sending the message. However, as the case study
shows, the sender failed to consider the receivers' language needs and access to
technology.
2.2 MESSAGE
The message is the information or content being transmitted (COM1511 Study Guide,
2023, p.21). The municipality's message was: "Water interruption in Zones 3–7.
Restoration is estimated at 18:00. Updates will follow." This message was short and did
not include important information such as where residents could collect emergency water.
According to the study guide, "the message must be clear, concise, and relevant to the
receiver in order to be effective" (COM1511 Study Guide, 2023, p.21). The municipality's
3
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: AUGUST 2026
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. QUESTION 1.1: SHANNON-WEAVER COMMUNICATION MODEL 3
3. QUESTION 1.2: CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION AND
4
UBUNTU
4. QUESTION 1.3: SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION BARRIERS 7
5. QUESTION 1.4: COMMUNICATION RESPONSE PLAN 9
6. CONCLUSION 14
7. SOURCES CONSULTED 15
1
,1. INTRODUCTION
This assignment examines the Madiba Park water crisis case study through the lens of
decolonial communication principles. The case study highlights how poor communication
during a service interruption can lead to confusion, distrust, and harm within a multilingual
community. Using the theories and concepts from Learning Units 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the
COM1511 study guide, this assignment will analyse the municipality's initial
communication, identify its weaknesses, explore how social media intensified barriers,
and propose a better communication plan for future incidents.
My assignment is structured into five main questions. Question 1.1 applies the Shannon-
Weaver communication model developed by Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver
(1949) to understand what went wrong. Question 1.2 analyses the weaknesses through
culturally sensitive communication and ubuntu, drawing on the work of Nussbaum (2003)
and Ramose (2015). Question 1.3 examines how social media created communication
barriers. Question 1.4 develops a practical communication response plan. Last, Question
1.5 addresses the technical presentation requirements.
2
, 2. QUESTION 1.1: SHANNON-WEAVER COMMUNICATION MODEL
The Shannon-Weaver model is a linear communication model developed in 1949 by
Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver (Shannon & Weaver, 1949). It describes
communication as a process of transmitting information from a sender to a receiver
through a channel. As the COM1511 study guide explains, the model includes seven
elements: sender, encoding, message, channel, receiver, decoding, noise, and feedback
(COM1511 Study Guide, 2023, p.20). This section applies each element to the
municipality's initial water-interruption notice.
2.1 SENDER
The sender is the person or entity who initiates the communication process by creating a
message (COM1511 Study Guide, 2023, p.21). In this case, the sender was the local
municipality. According to Shannon and Weaver (1949), the sender is responsible for
encoding the message and selecting the appropriate channel. The municipality posted the
notice on its website, which means the municipal communication officials or department
were responsible for creating and sending the message. However, as the case study
shows, the sender failed to consider the receivers' language needs and access to
technology.
2.2 MESSAGE
The message is the information or content being transmitted (COM1511 Study Guide,
2023, p.21). The municipality's message was: "Water interruption in Zones 3–7.
Restoration is estimated at 18:00. Updates will follow." This message was short and did
not include important information such as where residents could collect emergency water.
According to the study guide, "the message must be clear, concise, and relevant to the
receiver in order to be effective" (COM1511 Study Guide, 2023, p.21). The municipality's
3
