“We have strengthened the PMIE rule (rule 6.6) as many people falsely claim to deliver publications to educational institutions. We have introduced a delivery note that principals of schools will have to sign and stamp when they receive publications for educational purposes,” says Mishack Nekhavhambe, administrator at the ABC.R
align=leftHe adds: “This way we have proof that the correct number of copies were delivered.”
align=leftA number of other rules, which will be implemented on July 1, have been strengthened.
align=left”The rules were not specific enough. People were taking advantage and not abiding by the rules. The amended rules are easier to read and understand,” says Nekhavhambe.
align=leftPreviously when a title was suspended, there was no rule specifying for how long. This has now been amended and rule 4.11 now says that when a title is suspended, it will remain so for two reporting cycles. In the third cycle the publication will be reinstated. “We didn’t have a rule that illustrated the time frame that a title would remain suspended for, therefore the rule was strengthened,” says Nekhavhambe.
align=leftA new rule creating a “Hybrid Newspaper” category was introduced. This category (rule 5.6) includes “two identical versions of the same newspaper, one carrying a cover price for normal sale, and the other without a cover price for free distribution.”R
align=leftOther rules which were amended by the ABC can be downloaded from the document below.