Media is fundamental to any democracy and "a free media is an imperative," says communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.

Presenting the Broadcasting Amendment Bill in Parliament this week, the minister said government had introduced the Bill conscious of the fact that it would spark debate about the role of broadcasters and their social obligations.

She said what appeared as an "extreme position of government" in the Bill was intended to have all South Africans and Parliament focus their attention on the challenge of accountability and responsibility in broadcasting, cognisant of the diversity of the experiences of all people.

"After the initial reaction, this nation and the portfolio committee, through the newspapers, radio programmes and the debates of honorable members of this House, were able to focus on the real issues rather than the imagined ones that arose out of a lack of reading and understanding of the Bill," the minister said.

Among others, the Bill provides for the implementation of the conversion and corporatisation of the SABC; it includes a charter as well as accountability and compliance mechanisms.

"It strengthens the role of the publicly selected Board (of the SABC) in terms of governance and of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in terms of regulation, licensing and monitoring".

To ensure delivery by the public broadcaster on its mandate, it is now required in law that it prepares and submits to the regulator policies that will ensure compliance with the Regulator's Code of Conduct and its licence conditions.

"The Board must ensure public participation in the development of the policies and institute regular and effective means to solicit public opinion about its programming and give due consideration to public input," Minister Matsepe-Casaburri said.

She added that the SABC would have to develop its own Code of Conduct to ensure that the national broadcaster complies with the constitutional principle of equality and equitable treatment of all people, languages and the rights of all to information.

"The SABC must strive to provide for a wide range of audience interests, beliefs and expressions, and a high standard of accuracy, fairness and impartiality,' she implored- BuaNews.