INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING - The clash between the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the Johannesburg-based Muslim community radio station, Radio Islam, over the station’s policy towards women has taken a new twist. In December, the IBA ruled that one third of the station’s management should comprise of women and that a certain amount of time be made available on a daily basis for women on air. The ruling following a complaint lodged by a Muslim community organisation, YIELD, in the light of Radio Islam’s policy of not allowing women to speak on air. The radio claimed this policy was in line with Islamic practice. After the IBA issued its ruling, the radio said it would refused to comply. However, in a move aimed at circumventing the IBA ruling, Radio Islam in December lodged an application to amend its licencing conditions. The station is requesting that Clause 14 of its licence conditions, which states: "The licence has been granted in order to server the interests of the Islamic Community within its broadcasting area. ... ," be replaced by: "... the interests of the Muslims who adhere and accept the Islamic rulings and interpretations of the Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal. ..." If approved, the amendment will reduce the community of interest that the station is meant to represent to that of a single organisation, and effectively diminish the right of access of the community (in this case, Muslims in the broadcasting area) to the station and the airwaves. The IBA is to hold a public hearing on this proposed amendment as well as on Radio Islam’s application for an extension of its temporary community broadcasting licence on January 10.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION - A commission of inquiry into the rationalisation of the provincial and local divisions of the Supreme Court has recommended the establishment of a systematic legal information service to explain to the public how the courts function and from what agencies in a community a citizen may obtain basic legal advice. The commission’s report will be handed to the Director-General in the Office of the President. The commission has proposed that the information system be implemented by the Department of Justice, with due regard to the multilingual composition of the population. In recommends that information in the system be disseminated by means of the Internet and also in attractive brochures, couched in simple and clear language. The brochures should be freely available to the public at every magistrate’s court in the country. Bulk deliveries should also be made to all secondary schools.

INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING - The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) on January 7 ordered the closure of the community broadcaster, Voice of Soweto, because it apparently had failed to comply with its licence conditions. The IBA said the station would have to cease broadcasting from January 19. An IBA spokesman said: "In 1995 and 1996, Voice of Soweto failed to provide the authority with its audited financial statements, their board of directors was not properly constituted after some resignations, and the studios were not accessible to the members of its community." The spokesman said that due to the non-compliance with these and other conditions, the IBA had refused to grant Voice of Soweto another temporary community broadcasting licence. The station, however, looks set on challenging the IBA’s decision. In a statement issued on January 8, the station said it would apply for an urgent interdict to prevent its closure unless the IBA produced evidence supporting allegations against the station. The station indicated that it might also sue for libel in the event the IBA was not able to produce evidence supporting its allegations. Voice of Soweto is regarded as one of the most successful community radio stations in the country.

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