100 DAYS IN OFFICE ADDRESS BY THE NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON MR PATRICK KIKINE Minister Yunis Currim and the Deputy Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams in absentia, management of Mangaung Metro Municipality The CEO of MDDA and all senior Management, the Management of the GCIS , Management of the Department of Communications , Management of Platco, the Media Connections and all other fraternal partners, the leadership of the NCRF and the entire community broadcasting family , allow me to say all protocol observed The media industry itself is an economic actor and critical contributor to job creation and the national wealth which now stands at a total of more than R3, 5 trillion. Today we mark 100 days in office, an important occasion that it worth to be celebrated. It remains important in two areas 1. Have we made necessary assessment to the organisation and community broadcasting sector as a whole? 2. Do we have the necessary energy, commitment and capacity to take the sector forward? The state legislative and regulatory environment has contributed to this phenomenal growth of the community media and to be specific community radio sector . The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA),the department of communications (DOC), Sentech and the Media Development and Diversity Agency, (MDDA), have been working hard to promote diversity and open up the media space to other players. Government, through the MDDA, has supported more than 560 projects with R272 million in grant funding since the inception of the MDDA just over 10 years ago. Signal distribution fees and other costs for community radio stations are discounted and subsidised by both the MDDA and the Department of Communications. The frequency spectrum plan which accommodates all three tiers and grant funding is also provided for community radio stations through the MDDA. The reality is that as radio continues to evolve in the digital age, it remains the medium that reaches the widest audience worldwide. Today ICASA is accounting to about 204 community radio stations in South Africa with about 130 on air and others having received licences but not yet on air, this shows the pace in which community radio sector grows. Today we can say about 79% of our community has access to a community radio. A total of 92% of the district municipalities each have a community radio station. Radio listenership for community radio has increased to more than 25% of the total radio listenership. A success to be proud off. Radio is the mass media which is reaching the widest audience in the world. It is also recognized as a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium. Radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s social differences. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today. When we start in office in December 2013 the ambition was to see development of community radio. Today we are proud to say we have made a mark. Today we want to inform you about our plan without doubt which is, “Professionalizing community radio sector.” The NCRF will in the next five months: • We will establish three important components in our administration to strengthen our administration arm namely: The Research Unit Brand Communications and Marketing Monitoring and evaluation These components will assist us in: Research Unit The research Unit will do a research work on all existing legislation and the future legislative framework. We will do a thorough research on all community radio projects focusing first on those on air and later on the new projects. Brand Communications and Marketing The brand Communications and Marketing unit will assist in ensuring the visibility of the NCRF in any session where community broadcast sector is available. This brand communication will ensure the brand of the NCRF is secured. We will revamp our website. We are putting the community Radio on the map. The brand of the NCRF is on the road to becoming a powerful brand in media circles. The valuable relationships we have created in the first 100 days with different stakeholders both in government and private sector will enhance NCRF credibility and will benefit the member stations in a more significant valuable manner. Monitoring and Evaluation The monitoring and evaluation unit will take control of the entire national projects to do a thorough evaluation and monitoring and ensuring that there is a regular report from the National office, where there are national projects there will have to be regular reports. Our pride will represent a new era of community radio “Professionalizing community radio sector” • The National Community Radio Election programme The NCRF will be embarking on a national election programme for the 2014 National and provincial elections. We will establish a national media centre to co-ordinate the election programme with enough resources to produce reliable content direct from the communities. • Pursue the amendment of the Acts This board will continue to engage government on amendment of the following legislations The MDDA ACT 14 of 2002 In the act we would like to look at the media agencies , the media agencies must benefit community broadcasting , there should be a regulatory framework for the media agencies to contribute to community broadcasters, Immediately after the election we will start with this programme. The SAMRO Act 98 of 1978 – when this act was passed into law community broadcasting was not in existence and literally it could not have included community media, we have started with our engagement with SAMRO to lay the foundation to our processes. Electronic Broadcasting Act: It is important to note that the current process of the ICT green paper is taking place, we have been consulted , we have made our submission we will ensure that our submissions are effected on the document, the funding of community broadcasting is vitally important in “professionalizing Community Radio sector.” Companies Act : the current Companies Act does not specifically recognize Community Broadcasting We will ensure that the act will cover community broadcasting without exception. We are “Professionalizing community Radio sector” AS I conclude: We are going to host our National Policy Conference in June 2014 from the 12-15 this National Policy Conference will ensure the organisational streamlining, relationship with provinces and member station. We are calling an end to Community Radio lack of governance accountability. All community radio stations will have proper governance structures. We are going to create an organisational synergy between the Member Stations, Provinces and National structures. All our organisational structures are going to be the same, thank you to the MDDA for ensuring that there is a toolkit for governance though it is not easily implemented, we will ensure that it is implemented. The aim is to professionalize the community radio sector. If there is a complaint about a community radio please don’t withdraw the funding because it affects the community at that particular area. We need to know how this community radio is not able to help by account to you. We are making a mark, we are making a progressive difference, you will fill the NCRF presence. We will not apologize to work for community radio sector and defend the interest of community radio stations. We are indeed professionalizing the community radio sector. Ke a leboga Ngiya bonga Ndiyabulela Dankie Thank you very much
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 09:43:34 +0000
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