In 1993, the community media sector met in Cape Town under the banner of a conference called “Community Media 2000”. Among its recommendations was a formation of an “Enabling Support Mechanism” or “Media Development Agency”. In 1996, the then Deputy President Mbeki established a Task Group on Government Communications (COMTASK) led by Mr Mandla Langa. The community media sector led by the National Community Media Forum (NCMF) in its submission to the Comtask recommended the establishment of the Media Development Agency.


In its report “Communications 2000 – A vision for government communications in South Africa”, COMTASK recommended that government facilitate the process of setting up a statutory recognised media development agency for the dispensing of subsidies to the sector. (Comtask Final Report, Recommendation 79).


Section 16 and 32 of the Constitution Act No. 108 of 1996 provides for the freedom of expression and access to information. The MDDA Act No. 14 of 2002 establishes a statutory body entrusted with the responsibility of promoting media development and diversity in S.A. by providing financial and other support to community (non profit) and small commercial media projects.

Mandate

The MDDA should:

“…(C)reate an enabling environment for media development and diversity … which reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans;

“ Redress exclusion and marginalisation of disadvantaged communities and persons from access to the media and the media industry;

“Promote media development and diversity by providing support primarily to community and small commercial media projects…” .
(Preamble MDDA Act no 14 of 2002)

Vision
Each and every South African citizen should have access to a choice of a diverse range of media


Mission
The MDDA is a development agency that will assist in building an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes and reflects the needs of all South Africans.

Governance
The MDDA is governed by a Board of Directors, appointed in terms of the MDDA Act. It operate an independent body, expected through the MDDA Act to be impartial and to exercise its powers, perform its duties without fear, favour or prejudice, and without any political or commercial interference. (Section 4, MDDA Act). The law demands of the Agency not to interfere in the editorial content of the media.

The Agency acts through the Board, which may delegate its functions to the Chief Executive Officer. It is accountable to the Minister responsible for GCIS and Parliament. The Agency is also accountable in accordance with the PFMA Act, PAJA Act and MDDA Act.

Funding the Agency
Money appropriated by Parliament
Money received in terms of agreements with any organization for furtherance of the objectives of the MDDA Act
Domestic and foreign grants
Interest derived from any investments,
Contributions from Broadcasting Service Licensees not exceeding 1% of their annual turnover in terms of the Electronics Communications Act of 2005 (Section 89), or
Money lawfully accruing from any source


Some achievements
5 year partnership agreements were reached with Broadcast Media and Print Media
2006 marked the end of first three-year funding cycle and stability management of funding cycle
Three years of clean, unqualified Audited Financial Statements
Appropriate use of funds allocated by Government, media owners and international donors, with integrity
A three-year publicly available Strategic Plan

Preamble of the MDDA Act
114 projects supported, with over R20 million approved for disbursement
Media projects supported are located in every province in S.A.
Of the supported projects, 38 are new, did not exist prior to MDDA intervention
Diverse range of communities and interests supported – including projects aimed at the youth, women, people with disabilities, workers, entrepreneurs, the gay and lesbian communities
Development of a database of mentors for the Mentorship / capacity support programme
Network opportunities - Advertising and marketing workshops for about 200 different media organisations in four provinces

Some achievements
Training & Capacity building - Bursaries to 35 different print and broadcast managers
Conducted 9 workshops in all provinces on how to mobilise resources to broaden the funding base for projects
MDDA remains a vehicle through which media development, diversity and access can be realized.

Some challenges
Continued compliance with relevant legislations, regulations and funding agreements
Further inroads into underserved communities, in order to decrease the vast areas where communities still have no access to media
Creation of an environment of language diversity and access to different forms of media
Increased funding to the provinces of the Northern Cape and North West
Support for the newly licensed Community Radio stations in the Nodal Development Areas

Support for a sustainability strategy for the Community Radio sector in general, including possible radio academy, hubs and other capacity building interventions
Develop and support the enhancement of the corporate governance, financial and general management, broadcasting and other skills in the community radio sector
Support for the provincial hubs to support print media’s challenges including advertising, distribution and printing
Develop an approach for supporting the to-be licensed Community Television services
Providing more support to community and small commercial media projects

Explore the development of a loan system for supporting small commercial media
Plan for the implementation of the Electronic Communications Act of 2005, which provides for Broadcast Service Licensees to contribute up to 1% of their turnover to the MDDA, to be off set against the regulatory requirement to contribute to the Universal Service and Access Fund
Develop a comprehensive fund development strategy for the implementation of the growth envisaged post the Electronic Communications Act.

Requirements to meet the challenges
Increased funding for the Agency, as supported by the Electronic Communications Act and the partnership agreements between broadcast and print media
Increased organizational capacity for the Agency
Review of the policy and regulatory tools of the Agency
Improved capacity and systems at the Agency


Enkosi
Ke a leboga
Ngiyabonga
I thank you