Parliament, Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies extends its sincere appreciation to all stakeholders who participated in the podcasting roundtable held today, 24 March 2026.
The roundtable brought together policymakers, regulators, podcasters, digital platforms, legal experts, civil society and academia in what proved to be a robust, honest and highly constructive engagement on the future of podcasting in South Africa. The committee notes with satisfaction that the discussions were interactive, solution-oriented and reflective of a shared commitment to strengthening the country’s digital content ecosystem.
Committee Chairperson Ms Khusela Sangoni-Diko emphasised a key message from the engagement is that podcasting is not a challenge to be curtailed, but a sector to be supported. She highlighted its growing influence within South Africa’s digital economy, particularly as a platform driven by young people and new entrants.
Ms Diko highlighted that while freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s constitutional democracy, it must be exercised alongside responsibility. The committee acknowledged concerns raised during the roundtable relating to harmful content, including hate speech, misinformation and privacy violations, noting the need for accessible and effective remedies.
The committee further noted that South Africa already possesses a strong legal and regulatory framework, anchored in the Constitution, existing legislation and self-regulatory mechanisms. However, challenges persist in the form of fragmentation, complexity and insufficient coordination across institutions.
Participants also highlighted key gaps requiring attention, including the need for a simple and accessible complaints mechanism for the public, greater clarity on institutional roles and a proportionate regulatory approach that recognises the distinction between small-scale creators and large digital platforms.
Importantly, the committee emphasised that the policy conversation must extend beyond regulation to include measures that actively enable the sector. These include addressing barriers such as high data costs, limited access to equipment, the need for skills development and the importance of unlocking sustainable monetisation opportunities for local creators.
The role of digital platforms was also a central theme, with a clear expectation that platforms must act with greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness to South African laws and societal values, given their influence over content visibility, distribution and economic outcomes.
The committee further recognised the need for improved data on the podcasting sector, noting that evidence-based policymaking will depend on a clearer understanding of the industry’s size, structure and economic contribution.
Ms Diko emphasised that the roundtable marks the beginning of an ongoing process. “The insights shared provide a strong foundation for the committee’s work going forward. Our task now is to translate these inputs into a balanced framework that protects citizens, promotes innovation and ensures accountability,” she said.
The committee expressed its appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement as it advances its oversight and policy work in this area.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, MS KHUSELA SANGONI-DIKO.
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