Media
statement: Cabinet
approves draft legislation on MDDA
23 November 2001
Draft legislation
on the establishment of a Media Development and Diversity Agency
(MDDA) was approved by Cabinet on Wednesday for submission to Parliament.
It is expected
that the Bill will be tabled in the National Assembly by the Minister
in the Presidency during December, after being certified by the
State Law Adviser. It is anticipated that Parliament will invite
the public to comment on the Bill in January, with a view to holding
Public Hearings in February or March.
Once legislation
is passed by Parliament nominations for the Board will be called
for. It is therefore envisaged that the MDDA will be operational
towards the end of 2002.
The Bill provides
for the establishment of an independent agency that will, through
its support, facilitation and research functions, help create an
enabling environment for media development and diversity in South
Africa. Funding and other support will in particular be directed
at community media and, to some extent, small commercial media.
The draft legislation
provides for the MDDA to be an independent, statutory body funded
jointly by government and the media industry. It will be governed
by a nine-person Board appointed through an open process by Parliament
and the President. Four seats will be reserved for nominees from
GCIS, community media, commercial broadcast media and commercial
print media.
The Bill follows
the public release of a government draft position paper a year ago,
to which the public was invited to make submissions. A wide range
of stakeholders submitted extensive comments, and many of these
were incorporated into the final position paper and the draft legislation.
Further consultation
with the media industry has resulted in a draft Memorandum of Understanding
between GCIS and key print and broadcast media houses. The MOU will
form the basis of the partnership that has been established between
government and the industry. Amongst other things it is based on
a commitment by the industry to contribute to the funding of the
MDDA.
The Bill will
be available on the Government online www.gov.za once tabled in
Parliament, and thereafter from the Government Printers and GCIS.
Contact Dr Devan Pillay on 083 453 5544
Issued by
GCIS
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