MEDIA RELEASE 20TH JANUARY 2009 Issued by the National Community Radio Forum The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) is a national, membership-based association of Community Radio Stations and support service organisations. Community Sound Broadcasters form the third tier of the broadcasting Industry and are independent non-profit community based organisations, owned and run by diverse local communities who actively participate in the development of programming activities for sustainable non-discriminatory local development. The NCRF was established in 1993 to lobby for the diversification of the airwaves in The Republic of South Africa and to promote the development and growth of the Community Radio sector. The NCRF is governed by a Charter and the Constitution that are implemented by the Board of Directors elected bi-annually at a Bi-Annual General Meeting. Community Radio Stations from across the Republic of South Africa gathered in Upington in the Northern Cape in December 2009 for the Bi-Annual General Meeting of the NCRF to elect its leadership. The NCRF welcomes the following Board Members: Chairperson: Mr. Sonnyboy Masingi Deputy Chairperson: Mr. Joe Dire Secretary: Mr. Patrick Kikine Deputy Secretary: Ms. Rachel Watson Treasurer: Mr. James Seerane Additional Members: Ms. Thandeka Msani Mr. Thabang Pusoyabone Ms. Victoria Cawood Mr. Solly Rashilo Mr. Kgomotso Maila The Public Service Broadcasting Bill On the 15th January 2010, the NCRF submitted its views and comments on the proposed Public Service Broadcast Bill. The NCRF was very heartened by the DOC’s appreciation of the vital role played by community broadcasters and acknowledged the enthusiasm and commitment displayed by the DOC in its efforts to bring out legislative reform. The NCRF’s submission was based on resolutions taken at its Bi-Annual General Meeting held in Upington, Northern Cape in December 2009 as well as its Policy Reflection workshop held in October 2009. The NCRF raised its concern that the Proposed Bill does not address some of the root causes for existing challenges facing community media such as the need for preferential transmission rates and some of the proposals could in fact exacerbate some of the challenges. The Bill is based on a number of assumptions about the problems in the community broadcasting sector and not on a thorough, detailed research. In such a situation there is a real danger that some of the solution may have unintended negative consequences and therefore the DOC needs to The NCRF reiterated its view that that for community media to fulfill its role in our participatory democracy – facilitating meaningful freedom of expression and access to information - it must be independent of the government and other powerful sections of society and accountable to the broad community that is serves. Community radio is communication by the people, for the people and hence the importance of local partnerships with all developmental stakeholders, especially Community Based Organisations addressing local socio-economic issues The NCRF broadly welcomed the intention to establish a Public Broadcast Fund as a measure to ensure greater sustainability among community broadcasters and called on the DoC to ensure the regulations of the Fund allocate sufficient resources to support an independent community media sector to ensure that the sector does not have to compete with the SABC, Sentech, and others for access to a common pool of resources. The Community Radio stations are struggling financially with one of the major contributing reasons being the high Signal Distribution Rates charged by Sentech. NCRF appeals to the DoC to assist in relieving the plight of the many stations that are currently threatened with being switched off due to defaulting on payments The NCRF acknowledged that compliance and accountability needs to enhanced and strengthened in the sector; and felt that this should be driven by the principle of self-regulation with the sector setting up its own frameworks, standards and processes. While NCRF welcomed measures to ensure and increase Government support (at all tiers of Government) to community broadcasters, it was of the view that such support should be wide-ranging and not limited to the provision of office space or the presence of municipal officials on Boards. Of central importance is that the support is structured in a way that does not compromise the independence of community broadcasters. The NCRF also calls on Government to ensure that community media has access to Government communications and Advertising budgets. The NCRF is also against proposals in the Bill giving the Minister of Communications powers to issue directives to community media on “any matter connected to public service broadcasting” if the entity is unable to “perform its functions as prescribed in this Act” and believes instead that ICASA should be strengthened so as to have the necessary capacity to monitor compliance with the Act and make necessary corrective interventions when non-compliance occurs. NCRF / SAFA Grassroots Soccer Development The NCRF is very excited to announce an important partnership with SAFA. Commencing shortly, SAFA provincial administrators will participate in weekly shows on community radio stations to provide information on preparations for the 2010 World Cup, information on Legacy projects and to profile local teams playing in the different SAFA divisions. The SAFA national office will also connect to community radio stations via satellite. Promotional competitions will also be run. The primary purpose of this campaign is to build national pride in our national team and to mobilise communities behind Bafana Bafana as well as to promote the development of soccer. For further information on the newly elected Board, the NCRF’s submission on the Public Service Broadcast Bill or the partnership with SAFA and requests for interviews, contact Mr. Franklin Huizies on (011) 403-4336 or (078) 459-8103 or email on franklin@ncrf.org.za