Pretoria – As the country prepares for the 2021 municipal elections, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA/the Authority) is also reviewing the Municipal Elections Regulations of 2011.

In reviewing the regulations, the Authority has published the draft Municipal Elections Broadcasts and Political Advertisements Regulations amendments on 10 December 2020 for public comments from all interested stakeholders. The closing date for submissions is 15 February 2021.

The regulations prescribe the framework and guidelines under which Party Election Broadcasts (PEBs) and Political Advertisements (PAs) must be conducted and broadcast by broadcasting service licensees during the municipal elections, and to ensure equitable treatment of political parties during the election broadcast period.

To assist stakeholders in understanding the Authority’s preliminary views on the draft regulations and to put perspective on any issues that require clarifications, the Authority has decided to conduct virtual workshops from 18 to 22 January 2021.

The workshops are a critical initiative for the Authority because stakeholders will be able to have a more distinctive comprehension in terms of how ICASA view broadcasters, ensuring equitable treatment of political parties during the election broadcast period.

“New developments have also come to the fore, where consideration is being made for independent candidates who want to contest the elections, and we would like to hear stakeholder views in that regard,” says ICASA Councillor, Ms Palesa Kadi.

Interested stakeholders are requested to join the public hearings by clicking on the link below.

Click here to join the meeting

Ends…

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Paseka Maleka

Tel : (012) 568 3455

Cell : 079 509 0702

E-mail: pmaleka@icasa.org.za