Community television stations in South Africa has signed a charter to help regulate the conduct of community TV stations in the country, marking a leap forward for the growing sector of South Africa's TV industry.
In June South Africa's community TV stations formed the Association of Community Television South Africa (Act-SA) when licensed community TV stations signed a memorandum of understanding to create this new body.
Now Soweto TV, Tshwane TV, Cape Town TV, Bay TV, 1KZN-TV, North-West TV, Bara TV and Fresh TV have signed a charter agreement when representatives met last week in East London, to help regulate the conduct of community TV stations as a broadcasting group.
"The inception of the charter is a very significant step because it creates a code of conduct for community TV operators in South Africa," says Colin Mackenzie, Act-SA secretary general.
Act-SA says the charter will help community TV stations to become partners in defining the future of community TV in South Africa.
"South Africa's community TV broadcasters have set themselves the task of finding sustainable operational modalities in order to build a world-class community broadcasting sector," says Colin Mackenzie.
Act-SA is working on a constitution for the organisation which it hopes to adopt before the end of the year. Act-SA will then be established as an independent body with its own office bearers and staff, with its members being the licensed community television broadcasters of South Africa together with affiliate organisations.
Act-SA wants to advance the development of community television broadcasting both in South Africa and throughout the African continent.
