The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) believes that South Africa cannot have freedom of the media and expression when the ownership of the media is not representative of a diverse nation.
The agency was established to build diversity in the media and ensure ownership of the media by various communities.
The MDDA essentially exists to assist in developing and diversifying community and small commercial media in the country.
Recently, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni led the official unveiling of a brand new state-of-the-art studios at Cape Community FM (CCFM) in Cape Town in the Western Cape. 
During a live interview at the new studios, Minister Ntshavheni said it is important that the unveiling occurred in the year that South Africa celebrates 30 years of freedom and democracy.
In a statement released by the MDDA, the agency said the year 2024 is also an election year where citizens can exercise their democratic right to vote. It said the media, especially community media plays a crucial role in providing access to relevant, reliable and timely information upon which citizens can make informed choices.
“Community media plays an important role in promoting participatory democracy because many citizens heed the calls by broadcasters [and journalists] to exercise their right to vote during elections,” said the Minister.
She added that community media also drive important conversations that promote civic education, including combating crime and gender-based violence and femicide in the country.
The Minister said the MDDA, in its 20 years of existence, is on course in terms of promoting media development and diversity.
“More than 500 community media including print, radio and television have received support from the MDDA in the past five years. There are a lot of [community media houses] that would not have survived to this day if it was not for the support provided by the MDDA,” she said.
She said now that it has newly-built studios, CCFM can use the old studios to develop local talent in order to achieve a greater impact in society.
About CCFM
CCFM is a contemporary Christian community radio station serving Cape Town and surrounding areas. It is a non-profit radio station built on the Christian values that offers Christian music, talk shows and interviews to its audience.
It broadcasts on 107.5 FM in Cape Town and on 96.7 FM in the Fish Hoek valley, and worldwide via online live streaming. It also produces a TV programme on channel 263 on DStv, promoting the best this station has to offer.
It aims to serve and support the Christian community in South Africa by providing a line-up comprised of extensive news reports which include traffic and weather updates, talk shows where presenters discuss and inform the audience about current affairs, sports programmes and entertainment shows that feature special segments such as dream Interpretation.
The Minister said the MDDA is left with ten more studios to hand over to communities before the end of March 2024.
For more information, visit: www.ccfm.org.za MDDA: www.mdda.org.za or email mdda@whistleblowing.co.za or call 011 643 1100 / 0800 544 484
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