ICASA to determine sequence in which party election broadcasts are to be transmitted, 7 Feb

ICASA to draw lots to determine the sequence in which party election broadcasts are to be transmitted

6 February 2006

Johannesburg, - The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will monitor Party Election Broadcasts (PEBs) and Political Advertisements (PAs) during the election period for the Local Government Elections 2006.

ICASA promulgated regulations governing the broadcast of PEBs and PAs by sound broadcasting licensees during the 2006 Local Government Elections. The Regulations were promulgated under section 78 (1) of the IBA Act, on 10 January 2006 (Gazette No.28387).

The IBA Act defines a Party Election Broadcast (PEB) as a direct address or message broadcast free of charge on a broadcasting service and which is intended or calculated to advance the interests of any particular political party. PEBs offer each political party contesting the elections an opportunity to reach a large audience, to send out the message of the party’s programme and the party’s bid for support. The IBA Act permits the broadcasting of PEBs only during an election period.

The Authority has exclusive responsibility for allocating to contesting political parties PEB slots on public sound broadcasting services and on any other commercial or community sound broadcasting licensee choosing to broadcast PEBs.

The Authority has the right to determine the sequence in which PEBs are to be transmitted for the entire election broadcast period. The determination is to be made by the drawing of lots in the presence of an official of the Independent Electoral Commission (“the IEC”) designated by the IEC for that purpose.

The determination of the sequence in which PEBs are to be transmitted and the drawing of lots will be done tomorrow.
Details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 7 February 2006
Time: 11h00
Venue: Block B Auditorium, Pinmill Farm, 164 Katherine Street, Sandton, Johannesburg

For further information please contact:
Vimla Maistry
Tel: (011) 321 8434
Cell: 082 372 0270
Email: vmaistry@icasa.org.za

Issued by: Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
6 February 2006
Source: ICASA (http://www.icasa.org.za)