Hon Chairperson, hon members, let me take this opportunity to commend all the members and support staff that participated on this oversight visit. On this oversight visit, we managed to have 26 activities, visited projects which are as follows: Seven community radio stations; one commercial radio station; six post offices; four community newspapers; five Thusong centres; central regional operational offices and also the SABC.
Over and above that, we also participated as a committee on the Consumer Awareness Campaign in collaboration with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa. The theme of this oversight visit was: "Touch, feel and see how technology contributes to build better lives for all".
While I am presenting this report today, you will have noticed that we went there last year. A lot of things have changed or happened. Presenting this report today, I will focus on the progress already made. In the phone-in programme on Ligwalagwala FM during the visit, communities around Dundonald indicated that they didn't have access to Ligwalagwala FM.
I am glad that last month we received a report that indicates that these communities, as from last month, are able to access Ligwalagwala FM. I must express my appreciation for the efforts of Icasa, Sentech, and the SABC in this regard.
The ANC resolution is to have community radio stations in all municipalities by 2014. In this province, all district municipalities do have community radio stations. Out of 18 local municipalities, 8 do have community radio stations, one or more. Four local municipalities are in the process of acquiring one, and only 16 need to be encouraged to do so. Indeed, we are in line or on course with the ANC's resolution to ensure that all local municipalities do have community radio stations. On 21 March, as I have indicated, we had an engagement with the communities around Bushbuckridge. From the engagement with those communities, it was clear that the issue of cost to communicate was a critical matter. Amongst other issues raised by those communities were the availability, accessibility and affordability of Information and Communications Technology, ICT, facilities.
Indeed, following that engagement with those communities on 29 and 30 November 2012, as a committee we had a public hearing on the cost to communicate. Again, the outcome of the public hearing was loud and clear: it is expensive to communicate in South Africa. Today, I am pleased that Icasa has announced and published a discussion around the issue of cost to communicate.
I must thank all the committee members for their efforts to ensure that finally the issue of cost to communicate does receive the attention it deserves. I must also congratulate the Government Communication and Information System, GCIS, which ensured that community media, both radio and print, continue in an increased manner to get more adverts from the government departments and state-owned companies. We must congratulate the GCIS around that particular matter.
I must also indicate that we had a meeting with the print media and the Competition Commission on 15 June last year. Today, as we speak, some of the big four companies are before the Competition Commission, answering for their acts and omissions on the alleged anticompetitive behaviour that was raised by the community media organisation on our oversight visit.
Along with the progress we have made, I therefore present this report before this House for consideration. I thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Hon Chairperson, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.