Act No. 4, 1999
BROADCASTING ACT, 1999
(3) Applications for broadcasting licences must be made in terms of the
applicable provisions of the Electronic Communications Act and any
regulations prescribed thereunder.
[Subsection (3) added by Section 5(b) of Act No. 64 of 2002]
[Subsection (3) amended by Section 97 of Act No. 36 of 2005]
CHAPTER IV
PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE AND CHARTER OF CORPORATION
This Chapter provides for the incorporation of the Corporation and for the Charter. The
Charter is dealt with by Parliament as part of the broad national policy framework. The
Authority monitors and enforces compliance with the provisions of the Charter of the
Corporation.
Part 1: Public broadcasting service
Charter of Corporation
6.
(1) The Corporation must comply with the Charter as outlined in this part.
(2) The Authority must monitor and enforce compliance with the Charter by the
Corporation.
(3) In terms of this Charter, the Corporation, in pursuit of its objectives and in
the exercise of its powers, enjoys freedom of expression and journalistic,
creative and programming independence as enshrined in the Constitution.
(4) The Corporation must encourage the development of South African
expression by providing, in South African official languages, a wide range of
programming that- .
(a) reflects South African attitudes, opinions, ideas, values and artistic
creativity;
(b) displays South African talent in education and entertainment
programmes;
(c) offers a plurality of views and a variety of news, information and
analysis from a South African point of view;
(d) advances the national and interest.
(5)(a) The Board must prepare and submit to the Authority not later than three
months after the date of conversion, policies that will ensure compliance with
the Authority's Code of Conduct as prescribed and with the Corporation's
licence conditions and with the objectives contained in this Act, including:
(i) News editorial policy;
(ii) programming policy;
(iii) local content policy;
(iv) educational policy;
(v) universal service and access policy;
(vi) language policy; and
(vii) religious policy.
(b) The Corporation must notify the Authority in writing of any amendments to
the policies referred to in paragraph (a) as soon as reasonably possible.
(6) The Board must ensure that there is public participation in the development
of the policies referred to in subsection (5) by inviting and considering public
comment on such draft policies and by other means.
(7) The Corporation must provide suitable means for regular inputs of public
opinion on its services and ensure that such public opinion is given due
consideration.