Pretoria – The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has welcomed the move by the State Owned Entities Communicators’ Association (SOECA) and the State Owned Enterprises Procurement Forum (SOEPF) to increase their support for community media.
“[We] would like congratulate and welcome the important announcement made today by the SOECA and the SOEPF to both pledged their support for community and small commercial media, as defined by the MDDA Act,” the MDDA said on Monday.
The agency applauded the leadership of both formations for heeding the call by Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications for a minimum of 30% government advertising to be allocated to community and small commercial media.
After a recent meeting in Pretoria, the SOECA and SOEPF have also committed to help community media by giving it improved access to information on SOEs.
“As we celebrate our 20 years of democracy and 20 years of community radio, this decision becomes most significant, as it will ensure that the support goes a long way towards ensuring that community and small commercial media become sustainable and continue to play the critical role of educating and providing information to communities.
“This decision will deepen and enhance the agenda of promoting media diversity that is envisaged in the Constitution Act of 1996 and the MDDA Act of 2002. This will contribute to the sustainability of community and small commercial media, in so doing ensure sustainable media diversity,” said MDDA CEO Lumko Mtimde.
Mtimde said the MDDA will continue to engage with SOECA, SOEPF and Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) to implement this decision.
The MDDA was established to help create an environment for media development and diversity that reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans. Its vision is to promote access to diversified media for all, while ensuring the sustainable development of a vibrant, innovative and people centred media. – SAnews.gov.za
