MDDA - Media Development & Diversity Agency

16/12/2025

MDDA MOURNS THE PASSING OF NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER, DR NATALIE SKEEPERS

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is deeply saddened by the passing of its newly appointed Board member, Dr Natalie Skeepers.

Dr Skeepers was a highly respected Governance, Risk and Compliance Specialist and Safety Engineer, whose professional standing and expertise reflected a strong commitment to ethical leadership, accountability and public service passed away on the 15th of December 2025.

She was appointed to the MDDA Board following a recommendation by the National Assembly and a rigorous interview process conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies. Dr Skeepers was officially sworn into office and took her oath on 26 November 2025, in accordance with Section 4(5) of the MDDA Act.

Although her tenure was brief, Dr Skeepers’ appointment signalled a valuable contribution to the Agency’s mandate of promoting media development, diversity, and transformation in South Africa. Her passing is a profound loss to the MDDA, the communications sector, and the country at large.

The Chairperson of the MDDA Board, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, said that although Dr Skeepers had only recently joined the Board, she had already made meaningful contributions to the work of the Agency, including substantive inputs into the MDDA Bill, particularly on issues relating to the changing media landscape and the sustainability of community media.

The MDDA Board, Management and staff extend their heartfelt condolences to Dr Skeepers’ family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives she touched during her distinguished career. We honour her memory and the legacy of service she leaves behind.

May her soul rest in eternal peace.
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Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
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16/12/2025

Day of Reconciliation | 16 December 2025

Today, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) joins the nation in commemorating the Day of Reconciliation, a day to reflect on our shared history, promote unity, and reaffirm our commitment to social cohesion.

As we work to strengthen media diversity and amplify community voices, we remain guided by the values of dialogue, inclusion, and nation-building in pursuit of a united and reconciled South Africa.

15/12/2025

Festive Season Office Closure Notice

Please note that the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) offices will be closed for the festive season from 16 December 2025 to 01 January 2026.

The Agency will reopen on 02 January 2026.

We wish all our stakeholders a safe, restful, and joyous festive season, and look forward to continuing our work together in the new year.

15/12/2025

Media Statement: The MDDA Welcomes New Board Members Dr Skeepers And Ms Malefane

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is pleased to welcome two new members to its Board: Dr Natalie Skeepers, a Governance, Risk and Compliance Specialist and Safety Engineer, and Ms Moipone Malefane, an award-winning journalist with over 18 years of industry experience.

Their combined expertise strengthens the MDDA’s commitment to good governance, media development, and advancing a diverse and sustainable media sector.

Read the full statement below: https://mdda.org.za/pressrelease.html

13/12/2025

10/12/2025

The MDDA joins the international community and the community media sector in celebrating the International Human Rights Day.

10/12/2025

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) congratulates Tshwane FM, a beneficiary of the MDDA, along with all nominees and winners at the Telkom Radio Awards held in Johannesburg on 06 December 2025.

Read the full statement here: https://mdda.org.za/MDDA_community_media_telkom_awards.html

09/12/2025

On 8 – 9 December 2025, Media Development and Diversity Agency held media literacy training aimed at current and aspiring content creators. The workshops equipped the participants on best practices on content generation and content creation.

This media and digital literacy programme equipped participants on content creation and generation. The programme covered topics such as content production, podcasting, and the use of social media platforms like Tik Tok and YouTube.

The programme also emphasized the importance of promoting meaningful, digital participations, and create content that is legitimate and authentic, and not merely focus on engagements and views, as commonly practiced by content creators with no journalism background.

On the second day, the programme focused on importance of keeping journalism standards. In this day and age where fake news is prominent, perpetuated by the spread of misinformation on social media. It is important to verify sources and report the stories responsibly keeping in mind all the relevant laws for press and media.

06/12/2025

On Friday 05 December 2025, the MDDA joined GCIS, led by the Honourable Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Mr Kenny Morolong, and other entities such as Brand SA, and DIRCO in hosting the regional SADC Media Awards 2025 to announce the regional winners of the 2025 competition and officially launch the 2026 SADC Media Awards, which is open to all media practitioners within the SADC region.

Journalists from the SADC region who are interested to enter the competition can obtain more information and entry forms from the SADC National Media Coordinators (SNMCs) in their Member States or SADC Website on this link (www.sadc.int).

In his speech the Deputy Minister in the Presidency congratulated South Africa and the rest of Africa for hosting a G20 that made history on African soil and resonated globally. He also said the SADC Media Awards are a clear reflection of the agreement by frontline states that free media is a cornerstone of a thriving democracy.

The highly celebrated SADC Media Awards Competition 2025 winners from South Africa are: Mr. Launcelot Mpho Lakaje, overall winner in the Radio Journalism category, Ms Reitumetsi Sankola, overall winner, Television journalist, in the print category it is Ms Dikeledi Molobelo, from SA News, and Ms Renae Maungani won the photojournalist category.

In launching the 2026 Media Awards competition, the Deputy Minister encouraged the media practitioners to dig deeper, shout louder when telling the stories that will shine the spotlight on the Southern African region.

05/12/2025

On Thursday 04 December 2025, the MDDA together with partners United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), UN Women, UNAIDS, and TikTok, hosted a one-day training session in Braamfontein, Johannesburg in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.

Facilitated by FrayCollege of Communications and led by Journalist and Digital News Content Creator, Kgomotso Modise, the workshop aimed to equip community media journalists and content creators with the skills to conduct thorough research, fact-check effectively, and apply a human-centred approach when reporting on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and HIV.

The training also focused on strengthening understanding of the intersection between GBV and the spread of HIV. According to Zeenat Abdool, Communication and Advocacy Officer at UNAIDS South Africa, the session empowers media practitioners to tell GBV and HIV stories with greater sensitivity, recognising the persistent stigma and discrimination surrounding both issues.

03/12/2025

On the 19 November 2025 Media Development and Diversity Agency showcased its flagship project, Protection of Female Journalists Against Online Gender Based Violence, which was implemented in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale (GIZ). The project was rolled out under the Partnerships for Gender Based Violence in Southern Africa Programme (PfP) by GIZ.

Through the implementation of evidence-based flagship projects, capacity-building interventions, the development of tools for the collaborative implementation of GBV prevention measures, and the facilitation of regional exchange, GIZ has gradually worked to create communities that are safer, more equal, and more empowered.

To close phase 2 of the PfP, GIZ invited all their partners in South Africa to celebrate the collaboration and work they have done in their respective fields and sectors and showcase their projects in the exhibition. Let’s continue to fight GBV. With partnerships similar this we can curb the spread of the GBV.



See the exhibition video in the following link:

On the 19 November 2025 Media Development and Diversity Agency show cased its flagship project, Protection of Female Journalists Against Online Gender Based ...

01/12/2025

Today, 01 December 2025, we join the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day 2025 under the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.” As South Africa continues to navigate the social and economic challenges that shape our public health landscape, access to accurate, timely, and inclusive information remains essential.

Community media plays a powerful role in this effort. Across the country, community radio, TV, print, and digital platforms bring life-saving information directly to the people who need it most often in their own languages, shaped by local realities, and grounded in trust. From raising awareness about prevention and treatment, to sharing stories that combat stigma and support mental wellbeing, community media empowers individuals and families to make informed decisions about their health.

As the MDDA, we remain committed to strengthening a diverse and sustainable community media sector that continues to educate, mobilise, and uplift communities and today, we honour the grassroots platforms which ensure that no voice is left behind in the fight against HIV and AIDS.