Programme
Director
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang
MEC Qwase
Executive Mayor Mpumza
CEO of the SABC
Station Manager of ANCR
Representatives of Media Coops
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good
Morning
It
is with a sense of gratitude and appreciation that
I want to express our sincerest thanks and appreciation
to the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
for conceiving an idea of holding a summit of this
nature.
In terms of the Constitution of our land, which is
also the supreme law of the Republic everyone has
the right to freedom of the press and other media.
This freedom includes the freedom to receive or impart
information.
Accordingly, the mandate of the MDDA seeks to enhance
the efforts of making these rights a practical reality.
This
is true because the mandate of the MDDA is”…to
create an enabling environment for media development
and diversity that is conducive to public discourse
and that which reflects the needs and aspirations
of all South Africans.”
Critical to that is the support for initiatives which
promote literacy and a culture of reading.
It
is for this reason that I want to express our full
support for a proposal of a Media Literacy and Culture
of Reading Summit as an attempt to reactivate and
revive the culture of reading amongst diminished language
groups.
It
is important to note that there is a fast growing
deficiency of the culture of reading in South African
society and indeed in the SADC region.
This
continues to be a thorn in the flesh of authorities
and cause for concern of all progressive forces.
Surely,
such a situation can not be allowed to continue unabated.
Because of this reality the independent media houses,
state agencies and organs of state as well as the
three spheres of government remain challenged to turn
this situation around.
Our biggest challenge towards the attainment of our
goals is the infrastructural backlog.
In
our municipal area of jurisdiction there are still
areas where you can not find a telecommunication network
coverage.
There
are areas where there is no circulation of newspapers.
In fact even in those areas where there is adequate
circulation of print media, the culture of reading
is still wanting.
I
want to believe that perhaps, as a long term goal,
the media literacy and culture of reading programme
should be included in the school curriculum.
Media
production can not be left to media institutions alone.
Individuals and schools should be encouraged to develop
and produce their own media products.
Critical
to this is the availability of libraries as a source
of information and material whether print, audio,
audio visual.
As
a consequence of this reality, plans are afoot for
the construction of libraries in Mount Frere and Mount
Ayliff.
This,
we seek to achieve by enhancing our already existing
collaboration with the Provincial Department of Recreation,
Arts and Culture.
Despite
the deficiencies mentioned, we are thrilled though
to realize the rapid emergence of local newspapers
whose primary focus is on the local content which
does not normally get coverage in the mainstream media.
We
need to support these local media institutions because
their sustainability will surely go a long way in
supporting the media literacy and culture of reading.
Amongst
our challenges there is also the question of low literacy
levels. This therefore seeks to suggest that we need
to develop a multi-faceted approach in order to ensure
the allocation of resources from various media development.
Towards
concluding Programme Director, I want to reiterate
the question of infrastructure I mentioned earlier
on.
The reason why I want to emphasize this is because
this is common problem for all developing countries,
particularly in the area of telecommunication infrastructure.
For
an example, studies show that in 2000 the Capital
City of Japan, Tokyo had the telecommunication network
that exceeds that of the Sub Saharan Africa combined.
However,
there are many efforts that can be embarked upon while
we are still grappling with the issues of infrastructural
development.
With
those few words I thank you
