About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA)

The IBA was due to come into operation on 13 January 1994, taking the airwaves for the first time out of direct government control, but was postponed because of a lack of nominations. The result of agreement at the Multi-Party Negotiating Council, the IBA will be responsible for the planning and management of all the broadcast frequencies. It will determine which frequencies will be assigned, in which areas, and for which type of broadcasting service - public, private or community. It will award broadcasting signal distribution and broad-casting licences, including those for the SABC.

It will limit foreign control of private broadcast licences, and prevent the concentration of ownership of licences and cross-ownership of broadcast and other media. It will also prevent political parties from obtaining a broadcast licence. It has the power to require a minimum local content on radio and television stations and subject licensees to a code of conduct and a code of advertising practice.

The first IBA was appointed by the state president on the advice of the Transitional Executive Council and, later, it will be on the advice of the National Assembly. It is run by a chief administrative officer and will establish a Broadcasting Technical Committee and a Broadcasting Monitoring and Complaints Committee. In the run-up to elections, it overlaps with the Independent Media Commission, which is charged with ensuring the equitable treatment of all political parties by the broadcast media.

Tel: c/o TEC (011) 328–5490

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.