The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is a statutory development agency for promoting, supporting and ensuring media development and diversity, set up as a partnership between the South African Government and major print and broadcasting media companies, in terms of the MDDA Act No. 14 of 2002. In 2004, broadcast media (SABC, Primedia Broadcasting, MNET, Kagiso Broadcasting, MIDI TV) together with print media (Media 24, CTP, Independent Newspapers and Johnnic Publishing LTD) committed to supporting the noble work of the MDDA for five years. They renewed this commitment from 01 April 2009.
The President of the Republic of South Africa (His Excellency, President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma) acting in terms of Section 4 (1) (c) read with Section 7 (2) of the MDDA Act, appointed Ms Nebo Legoabe as a member of the MDDA Board, filling in the vacancy and replacing Ms Baby Tyawa who left the GCIS and has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Gambling Board. The MDDA takes this opportunity to thank Ms Baby Tyawa for her contribution towards the facilitation of development and diversity in the South African media sector, media freedom and to the promotion of the right to freedom of expression enshrined in our Constitution. Her service has been much appreciated. We look forward to continue our relationship with her as she join many other ambassadors of the agenda of media diversity.

The Agency welcomes Ms Lebo Legoabe and commit to working with and supporting her. We look forward to her leadership and guidance in the governance of the Agency, and wish her all the best in the quest to pursue the mandate enshrined in the MDDA Act. Ms Legoabe will be taking an oath or affirmation on the 29th July 2010 committing herself to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability, and upholding and protecting the Constitution and other laws of the Republic.

Ms Nebo Legoabe, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Provincial and Local Liaison at GCIS, holds a degree in Library and Information Science (B Bibl) from the University of Fort Hare (1994). Between 1991 and 1997, Nebo completed the B Bibl Hons (Cum Laude) and M Bibl degrees at the University of Pretoria. In 2005, she completed senior Management Programme at the University of Pretoria. She also obtained the following certificates: Community Development through Information (in Germany) and Advance Leadership Programme at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). From 1984 to 1992 she worked as a Librarian at the Mamelodi Campus of Vista University. Between 1993 and 2000, she worked at the CSIR as Project Leader: Community-based Information Services and from 1997 to 2000 as Manager: Local Economic Development and Provincialisation. She was also a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria in 1995. In 2000, she joined GCIS as Director: Liaison (Gauteng, North West and Limpopo), and in August 2002 was appointed Chief Director: Provincial and Local Liaison.

The Agency also takes the opportunity to thank the Government (whose valuable support for the Agency through GCIS and the Presidency has made its work manageable) and the funding partners of the MDDA [SABC, Multichoice Africa (PTY) LTD, Primedia (PTY) LTD, MNET, etv (PTY) LTD, Jacaranda FM; East Coast Radio, MIDI TV, Algoa FM, OFM, Capricorn FM, YFM (PTY) LTD, Media 24 LTD, CTP Limited, Independent Newspapers LTD and AVUSA Media LTD].

We look forward to signing new funding agreements with other broadcast service licensees (who have not yet signed the partnership) to join us in strengthening our work together towards ensuring that each and every South African citizen has access to a choice of a diverse range of media. Many Broadcasting Service Licensees have joined as partners from April 2009, contributing 0.2% of the annual turnover derived from the licensee's license activities to the MDDA, in line and in compliance with the ICASA Regulation: Prescribed annual contributions of licensees to the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) (Notice No. 31499) published on the 10th October 2008. The regulation as per the Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005 recognize the relationship between broadcasters and the MDDA thereby provide that such contributions made to the MDDA will be set off against the prescribed annual contribution to the USAF.

Further, the MDDA would encourage other new print media groups to join our hands in assisting the building of an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes and reflects the needs of all South Africans.

[14 Jul 2010 18:15]