Question NW2879 to the Minister of Communications

Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Communications

(a) Which community radio station currently funded by the Media Diversity and Development Agency (MDDA) are in financial distress and (b) what assistance has the MDDA given community radio stations that are in financial distress? NW3352E 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: 2879 of 2015 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07 AUGUST 2015 MS N I TARABELLA MARCHESI (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: (a) Which community radio station currently funded by the Media Diversity and Development Agency (MDDA) are in financial distress and (b) what assistance has the MDDA given community radio stations that are in financial distress?NW3352E REPLY: MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS Community radio stations in ‘financial distress’ are defined as stations that have requested and been funded by the MDDA on more than one occasion upon completion of the original grant. These are the stations that request for more funds towards strengthening on areas that are still lacking. For instance, a station might request funds for salaries, transmission costs, Outside Broadcast Equipment and Back-Up Power Supply (Generator or Solar Power). The stations that have been funded more than once are as follows: Inanda FM Emalahleni FM Vukani FM Bush Radio Inkonjane Community Radio Voice of Tembisa Aganang Community Radio Sekhukhune Community Radio ICORA Radio Khwezi Maputaland Community Radio Moletjie Community Radio Greater Tzaneen Kanyamazane Community Radio Star FM N FM Radio Riverside Radio Namakwaland Radio Zibonele A majority of these Community Radio Stations are in communities whose socio economic standards directly affect self-sustainability of the projects post the grant period. They solely rely on advertising revenue which is invested back into operational costs. All stations face a challenge of delayed payment for services rendered particularly from government and this has an adverse impact on their income and cash flow. The MDDA has provided financial support for salaries, infrastructure refurbishment, transmission costs, Outside Broadcast Equipment, Back-Up Power Supply (Generator or Solar Power). The MDDA also lobbies national, provincial and local government to support community radio stations through advertising. The MDDA is further working closely with the GCIS media buying unit in order to ensure investment to the sector. MR NN MUNZHELELE DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING] DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS DATE: MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP) MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS DATE