The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has approved R36.9 million in grant funding for 32 community media projects. The MDDA community media funding, announced on 1 April 2026, forms part of the agency’s 2025/26 cycle and targets grassroots broadcasting and publishing across South Africa.

Officials say the investment will help redress historical inequalities in media access. It also responds to high demand, with the agency receiving 197 applications during the open call.

MDDA Grants R36.9 Million to 32 Community Media Projects

The MDDA Board approved exactly R36,963,824.67 for the selected initiatives. The projects include 22 community radio stations and 10 print and online or digital media outlets. All nine provinces are represented.

Applications opened on 4 July 2025 and closed on 1 August 2025. The board evaluated the 197 submissions — 79 for broadcast and 118 for print and digital — against strict criteria in the MDDA Act and National Treasury regulations.

Supporting Inclusion and Indigenous Languages

This round of MDDA community media funding aligns directly with the agency’s mandate to promote diverse and accessible media. Approved projects place strong emphasis on indigenous languages and greater representation of disadvantaged communities.

These include women, people with disabilities, rural residents and working-class groups. MDDA Board Chairperson Prof Hlengani Mathebula highlighted the focus in an official statement: “The disbursement of funds to the approved initiatives underscores the MDDA’s mandate to support a range of community media projects as part of its broader role in strengthening the sector. These initiatives place a strong emphasis on broadcasting and publishing in indigenous languages, while advancing inclusion by ensuring that disadvantaged communities, particularly women, persons with disabilities, and rural, working-class and poor communities, are meaningfully represented in the media landscape.”

Building Capacity and Long-Term Sustainability

The MDDA community media funding provides immediate financial support, but officials stress the need for lasting impact. To help grantees succeed, the agency will host a Grantee Orientation Workshop in April 2026.

The workshop will cover financial management, project management, business management, corporate governance and compliance. MDDA Chief Executive Shoeshoe Ntsoaki Qhu added that public funding alone is not enough and called for broader partnerships to grow the sector.

Leadership Calls for Partnerships

Mathebula and Qhu both underlined the importance of community media for democratic participation and local voices. The agency encourages collaboration with private investors, development partners and technology providers to move projects toward greater self-reliance.