"Community radio remains the most readily available means of access to information for the majority of poor communities in South Africa. In this regard, the purpose served by community radio within communities is elevated to encompass greater significance in the promotion of active citizens and part ... icipation at the local level. In a rapidly changing socio-economic and civil-political context, it is therefore vital that the long term sustainability of this medium be ensured. This study explored the operating environment and narrows the scope of issues impacting on social, institutional and financial sustainability of community radio. The influence of government regulation and community participation were identified as the primary concerns for sustainability. Government, through ICASA and the various broadcasting legal and policy instruments, has immediate responsibilities for community media and community radio in particular which include: the allocation and management of radio frequency spectrum; regulation of spectrum and content among others. How these responsibilities are fulfilled can greatly affect the long term sustainability of community radio in South Africa. These concerns require further examination in order to ensure that efforts of government are influenced for apt and suitable regulatory response. On the other end of the spectrum, the role of communities requires further exploration to ensure that it is exercised with positive effect." (Conclusion) more

"In a rapidly changing civil-political and socio-economic environment, the internet has emerged as one of the primary mechanisms that influence and continue to redefine the practice of democracy. Internet freedom is therefore an increasingly important safeguard towards advancing not only freedom of ... expression but the broader issues concerning access to information but also its associated rights. This module highlights the evolving exercise of free of expression in a digital world and how this has an influence on open, accountable and sustainable democracy in South Africa." (Preface) more

"The Freedom of Expression Institute sought to prepare a module on Hate speech in South Africa with the aim of providing basic insight on the framework of hate speech as an aspect of freedom of expression to individuals, communities, social groups and civil society in general. This comes out of the ... need to address remnants of the apartheid era institutionalised racism that have manifested themselves among certain communities and groups in the form of hate speech. There is a need to educate the wider public in efforts to clarify what exactly hate speech is and in that be in a position to address it decisively. The concept of hate speech makes reference to speech that attacks the person or group to whom it is targeted on the basis of hatred or incitement of harm. In South Africa hate speech provisions are still underdeveloped and there is a need to look to development through case law." (Preface, page 3) more