The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will be hosting a series of provincial public workshops designed to engage stakeholders and solicit inputs on the Draft Amendment to the National and Provincial Party Elections Broadcasts and Political Advertisements Regulations, 2014 (“the Draft Regulations”) published on 04 October 2023. ICASA is reviewing the draft Regulations in preparation for the National and Provincial elections of 2024.
ICASA is empowered by sections 4 (1), 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005) to regulate Party Election Broadcasts (PEBs), Political Advertisements (PAs), and ensure equitable treatment of political parties by Broadcasting Service Licensees (BSLs) during an election period.
The National and Provincial Elections Broadcasts and Political Advertisements Regulations aim to provide a framework and guidelines for the broadcasting of PEB(s) and PA(s) by BSLs during the national and provincial elections. These Regulations are instrumental in safeguarding the equitable treatment of political parties and independent candidates by BSLs throughout the election period.
“The planned workshops will serve as an invaluable platform for all stakeholders and the public to actively participate in the regulatory process and therefore shape the amendments to the 2014 Regulations. This will ensure that there is transparency, inclusivity, and the promotion of fairness in the electoral processes’’, says Councillor Nompucuko Nontombana, Committee Chairperson.
ICASA reminds stakeholders to provide their written representations on the Draft Regulations. The deadline for written submissions is no later than 16h00 on 17 November 2023. The draft Regulations can be accessed on the ICASA website. Following the conclusion of the workshops and with consideration from the contributions of all stakeholders, ICASA will publish the amended Regulations. Submissions can be made via post, hand delivery, or electronically and must include an electronic version of the representation in Microsoft Word and a signed PDF version. The submissions must be marked for the attention of Mr. Ndawo Khanyile – Project Manager.
Download the planned provincial workshop schedule below.
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