Question NW434 to the Minister of Communications
30 March 2017 - NW434
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Communications
(1) Whether any of the community media projects funded by the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) received any additional funding from any government departments in the (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2015-16 financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) which community media projects received additional funding, (ii) from which government departments and (iii) how much funding did the (aa) MDDA and (bb) other Government department(s) allocate in each case; (2) Does the MDDA interact with government departments before any additional funding is allocated by the departments to community media projects in order to establish what allocations need to be made; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1.
(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) MDDA supported projects only account for the grant funds allocated by the Agency in each financial year.
(i) and (ii) The MDDA conducted a sample survey in 2016 in order to assess advertising support by the various municipalities across the country. There are plans to extend this survey to monitor and evaluate government support to all MDDA supported projects.
(iii) (aa) The survey covered currently and previously funded MDDA projects and did not focus on any specific financial year in which MDDA projects were funded.
(iii) (bb) The amount spent on advertising by municipalities during 2016 in community and small commercial media, as ascertained through the sample survey, is shown in the pie chart below.
105 broadcast projects and 49 small commercial projects were asked to participate by returning answered questionnaire to the MDDA. Only 39 projects returned the questionnaire. (22 broadcast and 17 small commercial). 115 projects did not return the questionnaire.
2. The MDDA liaises closely with the Broadcast Unit in the Department of Communications in order to avoid any double dipping and to enhance support for applicants who have submitted requests to both institutions. Currently, the MDDA has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Communications for the allocation of R20 million from the SABC for the roll out of digital broadcast equipment to 13 community radio stations that have requested support from the department. The MDDA also works closely with the GCIS in order to lobby for adspend support for the sector. The MDDA has not yet directly engaged with other government departments but lobbies support through various platforms and outreach activities.
MR NN MUNZHELELE
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE