Media Release
25 February 2025
Johannesburg: On May 29, 2024, South Africa marked 30 years of democracy by holding its 7th National and Provincial Elections. To assess how community media contributed to this milestone, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), with support from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), conducted a comprehensive media monitoring exercise.
The findings, captured in a newly released report, highlight the vital role played by community media in informing and engaging voters, while also identifying areas for further development.
Community media remains a crucial pillar in South Africa’s democratic landscape. Their ability to foster political discourse, encourage voter participation, and provide fair and representative coverage is more important than ever.
The 2024 elections also underscored the significance of community media in voter education. From explaining voter registration to detailing polling station locations and party candidate information, these platforms played a pivotal role in empowering citizens—especially in the wake of the recently enacted Electoral Amendment Act.
Click here to access the report
For media inquiries, contact:
Lister Namumba, Media Monitoring Africa’s Programme Manager for Monitoring, Research and Analysis, Tel: 011 788 1278 or Email: listerr@mma.org.za
Or
Musa Rikhotso, Project Coordinator, Tel: 011 788 1278 or Email: musar@mma.org.za
About MMA
Media Monitoring Africa promotes democracy, human rights, and development through ethical journalism.
End of Release