The Print and Digital Media Transformation Task Team (PDMTTT) launched...

The Print and Digital Media Transformation Team (PDMTTT) was launched in Johannesburg today following its first meeting held on Tuesday September 25. The PDMTTT was initiated by the Print and Digital Media SA (PDMSA), formerly PMSA, which is a body of print and digital media owners. The PDMTTT is a result of longstanding debates and calls within the broader society and Parliament for transformation of this sector of the SA media landscape. From the Human Right Commission investigation into racism in the media, to the recent interactions between Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications, the accusation against print media in particular was that it was untransformed, did not reflect the diversity of SA voices, especially the rural and the poor, and was white-dominated both in ownership and issues covered. Further accusations have been of cartel-like behaviour where emergent community and small privately owned media were smothered through a variety of anti-competitive behaviour. In recognition of this, and in line with the national priorities of transformation, Print and Digital Media SA, formerly Print Media SA, have gathered together this task team of independent experts. The team will take submissions from industry players and identified stakeholders and then produce a report which will form the blueprint for transformation of print and digital media in the country. The mandate of the PDMTTT is defined as: To assist the industry to develop a common vision and strategy for transformation. The first objective of the PDMTTT is to research, study and make findings on transformation of all areas of print and digital media, for mainstream and community media. The second objective of the PDMTTT is to recommend areas of transformation, methodology of implementing transformation, targets and the mechanism to monitor and enforce transformation. The PDMTTT Terms of Reference note that the media previously played a key role in both propping up the apartheid regime and in fighting it. As part of a new society, it must be proactive in redressing the imbalances of the past, while still ensuring its independence and being proactive in its vital role of promoting democracy. Thus, efforts to transform the South African society have to include transformation of the media in all its facets. The mandate of the PDMTTT is therefore to research the issues of transformation, and make recommendation, and make recommendations to PDMSA about how to implement transformation and the mechanism to effect such transformation. This will be addressed through both quantitative and qualitative indicators such as: • Ownership • Management, control and employment equity • Skills development • Preferential procurement and enterprise development • Socio-economic development • The low levels of blacks ownership within many large media groups • The extent to which concentration and market power results in anti-competitive behaviour that blocks new entrants • The need to develop new media products for regions and communities as well as the languages of those publications • Diversity of voices The Task Team intends to call all industry players as well as identified stakeholders to make inputs about all these issues in order to assist it with its work. The Scope of the PDMTTT’s work has been further defined as follows: The PDMTTT has a transparent mandate to research transformation and recommend the best practise for SA and how this should be implemented, monitored and enforced. Its mandate is specific to the print and digital media and, but reference may be made to electronic and broadcast media, if and when relevant. It will look at the indicators mentioned above across all areas of the industry, including advertising, printing and distribution. This will be in relation to newspapers, magazines and digital, for mainstream, and community publishing. It will define transformation and set thresholds and benchmarks for transformation with regard to staffing, turnover, enterprise development and areas of focus for these. It will determine whether such benchmarks should be lower or higher than the generic codes benchmarks. The task team members are: • Nkwenkwe Nkomo – Chairperson and expert on Advertising • Neo Bodibe – Spokesperson and expert on Competition policy • Anastacia Martin – Representing member of Digital media • Jan Malherbe – Management, Printing and Distribution • Nomvuyiso Batyi – Lawyer and expert on Telecoms and Broadcasting policy • Duma Gqubule – Expert on Economic Transformation and BEE • Nixon Kariithi – Academic and expert on Media Economics Mathata Tsedu, who heads the secretariat and is the Project Director of the PDMTTT said, “As a team, we realise that the issue of transformation of the media was first tackled formally since the advent of democracy, when the Human Rights Commission held its hearings into racism in the media in 1998. The issues raised in their report will need to be revisited by us. Admittedly, there has been important progress in some areas, such as senior appointments of editorial staff, but the perception out there is still that the print media had still not transformed on all levels. What this team needs to do, therefore, is to get the print industry to a point where transformation is accepted as being done. The print and digital media have to do everything possible to show us South Africans that they are part of where we are going as a country – we need a media that is truly South African.”

Abandoned community in the township

Eighteen years into democracy one would expect a decent lifestyle for a normal citizen but this seems to be a promise that is constantly being made and never kept by those who hold power. In the outskirts of Soweto just a stone throw from Eldorado Park down in Union Road lie a concealed village. Devland squatter camp is a home to most people who originate from neighbouring country such as Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Bua Soweto News visited the area and were met with shattering scenes of people still living in wet land since they squatter themselves in 1998. The living conditions are not pleasing let and healthy for a human-being and up until now they have yet to see any developmental changes. These destitute residents utilise dirty water from the well to drink, bath and do laundry as they have no other alternative. To make ends meet they rely on recycling cans, papers, bottles and tins, for each and every day they keep themselves busy by collecting recycling material from nearby townships. Moena Phollo says that the water help them to do washing and also to prepare meals, we drink water because we don‘t have pipes in our area, as you can see that we are living on our own land. “We have been staying in this place for quite some-time, the government once came for inspection, saw our dire living condition then made promises which till now are yet to be fulfilled” The Joburg City Council responded as follows •Do the department know of their existence? If so, were there any visits to the place? And who owns the land they live in? Answer: The City of Johannesburg's Displaced Unit is aware of the people in the area you mention in your enquiry. Field worker from this unit have on numerous occasions visited the area. The place in question is a landfill site. The people referred to have been drawn into the place by recycling activities. •What has the department done to remedy the situation? Answer: The social workers visit the area regularly. The key person in the area is a Mr Alfred who is also a gatekeeper in this community and is familiar with the efforts of the Displaced Persons Unit. The majority of them are undocumented migrants from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The main concern has been around the children, where the unit has been trying to facilitate schooling, but the parents have not been cooperative. The Department has made the community aware of the services offered by the City and tried to engage especially women to be relocated, however this has not been successful. •What kind of help(if any) will the department offer to those people? Answer: The social workers continue to be available to assist the residents and providing information on services offered by the City and other spheres of government. An exercise to profile the residents has been undertaken and some of the inhibiting factors for people to accept the options offered has been fear of deportation and that of separation from their children and partners.

Don't just do what you're asked, do more!

A mayoral spousal programme themed Love Jozi Generation under the tagline “Don’t just do what you are asked, do more” was launched recently at Jabulani Theatre. It is deemed as an opportunity to establish programmes that are of a good cause to complement the work that the municipality is doing towards the livelihood of the citizens of the City. The focus area of the programme includes education for youth and child development, support and integration of burn survivors, addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children and women empowerment. Love Jozi Generation, Burn Survivors, Orphans, Women Networking and Sport & Recreation for Social Change are some of the projects identified that make up the mayoral spousal programme. Poet and Political Activist Keorapetse Kgositsile fondly known as “Bra Willy” who graced the event with his presence said “during this women’s month we celebrate heroism and sacrifices by our women to bring about social and economic transformation. Women continue to be burdened by challenges therefore our goals and mission will not be accomplished if the emancipation of women is not achieved. The increase in number of women in government symbolises their strength however we admit that this is not enough. There is a need to be able to develop initiatives that are developmental. Quality education and health is of necessity and the impact of this initiative should be felt in the community. “When we started the programme it was known as Thandi Klaasen Foundation and we would love her to be the patron. As it stand we have a leadership development programme with schools where kids are nurtured, we all know how cruel children are to each otherhence we will be hosting workshops where we envisaged to work with the family. We wouldn’t want kids to feel that the world owe them, we aim to instil the mentality to our kids that “You are in this situation because god has a purpose for you”. Life is about the choices we make, and that it shoots you at a point blank range.We are grateful for the support we have been getting from all those who are involved and we call upon others to come on-board and aid us” said Pilisiwe Twala-Tau.