Submissions on Broadcasting Bill postponed

The Department of Communications has issued a notice saying it has pushed forward to next week the closing date for submissions regarding the Public Service Broadcasting Bill, Charter of the Corporation and Charter of Community Broadcasting Services.

The new closing date for public submission is 15 January.

“Pursuant to section 3 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005, notice is hereby given that the Minister of Communications, General Siphiwe Nyanda, has extended the closing date for public submission in respect of the draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill, Charter of the Corporation and Charter of Community Broadcasting Services,” the Department said in a statement.

The draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill, released by the Department of Communications last year after a consultative process. The Bill seeks to repeal the Broadcasting Act no.4 of 1999, so as to “align the broadcasting system to the developmental goals of the Republic”.

The Charter of Community Broadcasting Services and Charter of the Corporation were on the other hand gazetted as processes to repeal the Broadcasting Act no.4 of 1999.

by Goodman Majola