Closing Remarks by the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo, on the Occasion of the Official Handover of the Parliament TV Studio by the[...]

Honourable Members and Distinguished Guests

These are exciting times for us as the Executive Authority of Parliament to witness such an important milestone in the development and changes that are taking place in our country and the legislative sector.

We have recently hosted a successful legislative oversight summit, and we are now officially receiving a state-of-the-art television studio that will boost our efforts in making the law-making process and our oversight programme more transparent and accessible to the people of South Africa.

According to the 2021 annual surveys conducted by research agency, IPSOS Markinor, television remains a primary source of news on Parliament for approximately 80% to 90% of the South African public. Similarly, over 60% of the population relies on radio for news on parliamentary activities. These statistics highlight the significant role that television and radio play in shaping public opinion and understanding Parliament's work.

As many of you may know, providing a broadcast service does not come cheap, and we are grateful to MultiChoice for assisting us with the infrastructure. What Parliament, especially the seventh Parliament and the ones to follow, will have to grapple with is financing the operations of the Parliament Broadcasting Service.

Parliaments across the globe have adopted various models of funding for their broadcast services and as Parliament, we are also looking into those. Having examined the intricate interplay between licensing requirements for the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the legislative framework necessary for Parliament's Broadcasting Services, it becomes imperative to deliberately push for legislative intervention.

Parliament, as a constitutional institution, bears unique responsibilities and distinct public service obligations. The prevailing legal framework regulating broadcasting falls short in addressing the intricacies of Parliament's foray into broadcasting.

As we are aware, Parliament has a responsibility to create a robust and enhanced mechanism to share information with the people to ensure that the public is involved in its affairs. A key tool in achieving this goal is establishing effective communication channels, such as a free-to-air parliamentary TV channel and radio.

With this welcome boost from MultiChoice, we are a step closer to achieving what we are aiming for. This sponsorship from MultiChoice is a necessary boost that will push us to greater heights in delivering on our commitments to the people.

We would like to thank the MultiChoice Board and Executives for their continued support that has made this renewed partnership possible. To the Group CEO, Mr Calvo Mawela, we appreciate your commitment and tenacity to help ensure that our democracy works through the continued contribution that your organisation makes to Parliament - through the Parliament TV channel.

Also, I would like to thank our predecessors (Former Speakers Baleka Mbete and Thandi Modise) who had the vision to make sure that this idea of a studio came to fruition. Coincidentally, Minister Modise is my predecessor as the Chairperson of the NCOP and also the predecessor of the current Speaker, as she was the Speaker before she moved to the Ministry. We thank you for your foresight.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for gracing us with your presence.

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