Question NW2876 to the MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

(a) How many community radio stations have been funded by the Media Development and Diversity Agency since 2004, (b) how many of these community radio stations are still operational, (c) which stations are not operational, (d) what are the reasons for their inability to operate, (e) how much (i) funding, (ii) equipment and (iii) training was provided to the community radio stations that are no longer operational and (f) what happens to the equipment once the station is no longer operational? NW3349E MINISTRY: COMMUNICATIONSREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Private Bag X 745, Pretoria, 0001, Tel: +27 12 473 0164 Fax: +27 12 473 0585 Tshedimosetso House,1035 Francis Baard Street, Tshedimosetso House, Pretoria, 1000 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NUMBER: 2876 of 2015 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07 August 2015 MS V VAN DYK (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS (a) How many community radio stations have been funded by the Media Development and Diversity Agency since 2004, (b) how many of these community radio stations are still operational, (c) which stations are not operational, (d) what are the reasons for their inability to operate, (e) how much (i) funding, (ii) equipment and (iii) training was provided to the community radio stations that are no longer operational and (f) what happens to the equipment once the station is no longer operational?NW3349E REPLY: MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS The MDDA has funded 103 Community Radio Stations since 2004 in 57 district municipalities in South Africa. Of the 103 community radio stations currently on the MDDA’s disbursement profile, ninety nine (99) are fully operational. Four (4) out of 103 three stations currently on MDDA’s disbursement profile are not operational. They are as follows: i Franchoek FM (Western Cape – Cape Wine Lands District Municipality) ii Motsitle Community Radio (North West – Bojanala District Municipality) iii Qwa Qwa FM (Free State – Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality) iv Blouberg Community Radio (Limpopo Province – Capricorn District Municipality) During the grant funding cycle, MDDA pays for the insurance of broadcast equipment. Once the grant funding agreement expires, stations are supposed to continue with the insurance. (i) Cumulatively grants totalling R 280 million have been awarded since 2004 to date. (ii) 55 community radio stations have received digital broadcast infrastructure to the value of R47, 236,885.00 (iii) Not applicable. Currently all radio stations are operational, however in terms of the Grant in Aid Agreement and the NPO Act/ including the constitutions of the entities MDDA funds there is a clause that provides for such equipment to be transferred to a project of similar objectives. MR NN MUNZHELELE DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING] DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS DATE: MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP) MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS DATE: