Question NW857 to the Minister of Communications

Reply:

a) Kurara FM received a total grant funding of R 1,575,946.59 from the Media Development & Diversity Agency in October 2010 which was to cover the Purchasing of a digital broadcast studio; Transmission costs; Stipends; and Operational costs. The allocated funds were to be disbursed to the station on a tranche payment basis, meaning for every tranche of the funds released, the station was or is contractually obligated to submit a comprehensive financial and narrative report accompanied by supporting documents. The station could not adequately report on the first tranche of the funds and the Agency sent an official to the station to assist with the report. As a result, the station was then able to receive its second of the four tranche payments.

Subsequently, as contractually required, the station once again could not submit a thorough report and the Agency once more visited the station to intervene and assist the station. Upon the Agency’s engagement with the project, it learnt that the station had undergone a change in management and the management, together with its board, declared that the station had no records of the funds. As such, it claimed, it could not furnish the Agency with the required report, a key prerequisite before any further funds could be disbursed to the project. In light of this impasse, the Agency has since advised the station to request that the grant be written-off and reapply for another grant with the Agency. The station is yet to respond after the last engagement with the Agency. It should be noted that the recommendation to the station from the Agency’s officials is based on the fact that the station has declared that it cannot account for and has no record whatsoever of the funds in question.

Radio Teemaneng received a total grant funding of R 954,773.62 from the Media Development & Diversity Agency in July 2011 which was to cover Equipment and Operational costs. The station has so far received two payments of the four tranches as per its contract with the Agency. While the Agency has tried to assist the station to adequately report on the latest funds it received, the contract the station has with the Agency lapsed as a result of slow reporting from the station. It also emerged that the station could not provide the Agency with a valid tax clearance certificate. As part of requirements, before any payment can be made to any entity or beneficiary, a valid tax clearance must be submitted to the Agency, and the station is yet to do so do date. As it stands, the Agency has given the station an opportunity to resolve its tax certificate issues with SARS before any further payment can be made. The process will also require that the station’s contract with the Agency be extended, provided that the station can adequately report on its previous tranche and also provide a valid tax clearance certificate.

(b)(i) A total number of 57 community radio stations have been assisted by the Media Development & Diversity Agency from the period 1st January 2012 to 31st of December 2015, as follows: Limpopo (10); North West (9); KZN (12); Eastern Cape (5); Western Cape (4); Free State (3); Mpumalanga (7); Northern Cape (3); Gauteng (4).

(ii) The stations were funded for various line items and the breakdown per province is as follows:

Limpopo Province

1. Maruleng FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Giyani Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends, Programme Production)
3. Greater Tzaneen FM ((Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, and stipends)
4. Sekhukhune FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. Botlokwa FM (Programme production)
6. Lephalale Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Mohodi FM (Programme Production and stipends)
8. Malamulele FM (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs and stipends)
9. Tshepo ya Sechaba Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
10. Hlanganani FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs and stipends)

North West

1. Kgatleng FM (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Madibogo Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Mafikeng Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Mmabatho FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. Radio Mafisa (Transmission equipment, operational cost)
6. Village FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Motsitle Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
8. Aganang Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, stipends and programme production)
9. Star FM (Operational Costs, Office Equipments, Salaries and Programme production)

KwaZulu Natal

1. ICORA (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Ngquthu Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Nqubeko Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Umgungundlovu Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. KZN Capital Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
6. Inanda FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Ugu Youth Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
8. Siyathuthuka Community Radio ( Transmission equipment, operational costs and stipends)
9. Maputaland Community Radio
10. Vibe FM ((Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs and power back- up)
11. Radio Khwezi (Programme Production)
12. Nongoma FM(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

Eastern Cape

1. Mdantsane FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Kumkani FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Izwilethemba Community Christian Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Isajonisi Youth Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. LA FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

 

Western Cape

1. Radio KC (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, security costs, marketing costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Bush Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio and stipends)
3. Radio Kaapsepunt (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Radio Namakwaland (Programme production)

Free State

1. Koepel Stereo (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Naledi Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Mozolo Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

Mpumalanga

1. Mash FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs and stipends)
2. Emalahleni Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, stipends and Programme production)
3. Bushbuckridge Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios and signage)
4. Nkangala Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs and operational costs)
5. MP East Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
6. Nkomazi FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Kanyamazane Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, stipends and Programme production)

Northern Cape

1. Radio Riverside (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming, stipends and audio streaming)
2. N FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming, stipends and audio streaming)
3. Revival FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

Gauteng

1. Eldos (Digital broadcasting equipment, Transmitter, Training and Operational Costs)
2. Hweletsa Hope FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Ekasi Connexion (Power back up, Digital Broadcasting Equipment)
4. Bagaka FM(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs)

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE