Civil Society Organisations Call for the Publication of the Draft White Paper

On Friday, the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS), together with Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE), the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), Cape Town TV, the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ), the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), and Animation South Africa (ASA), wrote to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT). The organisations reiterated their concern about the continued delay in publishing the third iteration of the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and Online Content Safety.

These civil society organisations note that despite commitments made by the Department’s employees in at least two meetings of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PPCCDT) to publish the revised draft by the end of the financial year, 31 March 2025, the sector still awaits this promised draft. 

We urge the Department to publish the long-awaited iteration of the Draft White Paper and reiterate that a speedy progression of this regulatory process is of utmost importance as it is crucial that we not only provide an updated policy for our broadcast media but also provide a policy framework that is fit-for-purpose in the digital age. 

The organisations remain committed to supporting robust and consultative policy-making process that strengthens public interest media in South Africa.

For more information:

Uyanda Siyotula, (SOS National Coordinator): 060 691 2462

William Bird (MMA Director) – 082 887 1370

Nicole Fritz (CFE Executive Director) – 082 452 3909

Samkelo Mokhine (FXI Executive Director) – 072 294 0671

Karen Thorne (Cape Town TV Station Manager) – 084 603 1061

Faiza Abrahams-Smith (IAJ Director) – 076 163 73 46

Ayanda Sibisi (IPO General Secretary) – 076 837 6576

Xolile Vundla (ASA National Chair)- 078 231 2332