Pretoria - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi says the development of villages, townships and small “dorpies” is a necessary process to improve the quality of life and economic wellbeing of people living in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas.
Minister Muthambi was speaking at the inaugural North West Economic Lekgotla also known as Villages, Townships, and Small Dorpies (VTSD) in Mahikeng on Wednesday.
“As the Ministry, through our departments and entities, we extend a hand of partnership to the province to fulfil the National Development Plan’s (NDP) vision of building a better South Africa.
“Radical economic transformation must be underpinned by investment in education to ensure sustainable economic growth. An educated workforce can pursue higher value economic activity that employs more people to grow the local economy. Job creation is crucial in reducing poverty and unemployment,” she said.
Young South Africans must be at the centre of radical economic transformation.
“Working together with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), we launched the Workbased learning, Apprenticeship, Learnership and Internship Scheme (WALIS) Sound Technology, Film and Television Learnership programme with 40 youth as beneficiaries.
“These young people will form the first cohort of content producers who will tell this province’s stories on the new digital television channels envisaged once we complete our migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.
“This leap in technology will make it possible to establish multiple channels, offering new programming in the languages most relevant to the province,” said the Minister.
Digital Migration
Minister Muthambi said the opening of registrations for government-subsidised Set Top Boxes (STBs) in the North West will be announced in 2017.
The province is one of the prioritised provinces in the roll-out of STBs to impoverished TV-owning households because it is one of the border lying areas with Botswana.
“Based on our assessment of the analogue switch off in the SKA area, the advent of Digital Terrestrial Television has created employment opportunities for young people as installers of the Set Top Boxes.
“Work must begin with the Department of Communication to plan Izimbizo to promote the uptake of registration, explain the benefits of STB’s, and identify youth that can participate in the installer programme,” she said.
The Minister commended the public broadcaster for implementing the 90% local content policy.
“It is our firm view that the 90% local content is a true form of transforming the airwaves. We also note that the SABC has been using its North West studios to benefit emerging players from this province.
“I urge you to work with us to ensure that our people enjoy the benefits brought about by the implementation of the digital terrestrial television,” she said.
Community Media
There are six community print media and 16 community radio stations. “We hope that the North West Provincial Government would assist in ensuring that at least 30% of the provincial and local government advertising budget is directed towards community media as defined by the Media Development and Diversity Act.
“We are doing this because community media is an important layer of the three tier system of broadcasting.
“Through GCIS media buying, government departments placed R36 million in community media during the 2015/16 financial year,” she said.
The Minister used the platform to challenge communicators in the province to move from declaring 2017 “The Year of Communication” to concrete action to support community media because these media platforms are effective.
Media transformation
According to Minister Muthambi, print media transformation will address not only print media ownership, but also the ownership of printing press, the measurement of circulation, distribution channels and the assessment of regulatory instruments to regulate the affairs of media practitioners.
She said another platform that is vital to economic coordination at the local level is the role played by broadcast media.
“In GCIS, we have brought together local community radio stations with a reach of a minimum of eight million listeners.
“This platform is fast growing and easily accessible to local communities. From time to time GCIS organises experts to talk to communities on different topics,” she said.
Minister Muthambi challenged local government communication practitioners to make sure their websites are well developed and populated with information.
“I am aware that different municipalities have many programmes and projects that they undertake to develop and empower their communities, but not much is said or disseminated to the residents.
“A community which is not informed, is a brewing pot of disgruntlement. Let us keep our communities informed through the available platforms.
“Our department is always available to assist struggling municipalities with how to populate and activate their different communication platforms. We are also available to offer such to local governments. We have GCIS offices in every province, including the Western Cape,” she said.
The VTSD provincial economic lekgotla will end on Friday. - SAnews.gov.za
