The eternal quest for an independent public broadcaster: What’s news?

Abstract

Sec. 192 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 compels the National Legislature to establish an independent authority to regulate broadcasting in the public interest, and to ensure fairness and a diversity of views broadly representative of South African society. The purpose of this article is to establish the manner in which the Legislature discharged this constitutional obligation. The bodies appointed and mandated with the execution of this duty are identified, their jurisdiction established and their competency in ensuring that the public broadcaster remains independent in serving the public interest, critically considered. It appears that appropriate structures and procedures are in place to support the independence of the public broadcaster.