The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) today hosted a Pre-Grant Call Workshop and Governance Training session in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, as part of its nationwide campaign to support grassroots media.
This event comes just weeks before the official opening of the MDDA’s 2025 Call for Grant Funding Applications, scheduled for 4 July. The workshop was designed to help community and small commercial media projects prepare successful and compliant applications.
Participants benefited from tailored training on media governance, leadership, ethics, and operational management—key areas for ensuring the sustainability and accountability of media outlets that serve underrepresented communities.
Speaking at the workshop, MDDA representatives emphasized the Agency’s ongoing efforts to empower local voices and expand access to information. “We want to see thriving, independent, and diverse media platforms in every province, and that starts with strong foundations in governance and compliance,” one official noted.
The event also featured input from sector partners, including signal distributor Sentech and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Both organisations shared valuable guidance on regulatory compliance, licensing, and broadcasting opportunities.
Attendees, many of whom were first-time applicants or emerging media entrepreneurs, said the session helped clarify the requirements and expectations of the upcoming grant cycle.
This initiative underscores the MDDA’s broader mandate: to foster diversity, access, and inclusivity across South Africa’s media landscape—particularly in rural and underserved areas like Mpumalanga.
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