[30 August 2025]
The Competition Commission now has until November 28, 2025, to release its final report for the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI). The report will include proposed actions and recommendations.
Notice of Extension of MDPMI to 28 November 2025
[11 August 2025]
The MDPMI Provisional Report recommends creating effective ways to fight disinformation and misinformation in South Africa.
17.6. A recommendation to the Department of Communications and Digital Technology (DCDT) to amend the ECTA to introduce liability for online platforms where they allow harmful content and amplify misleading content through their algorithms, or where misinformation reaches a certain threshold of users through follower accounts (e.g. over 10,000 followers). Additionally for the ECTA to be amended to introduce a provision requiring platforms to adopt a policy of pro-actively removing harmful content and not providing an algorithmic boost to misinformation, including a prohibition on promoted posts or ads that contain misinformation.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is currently considering an ombud scheme for complaints concerning South Africa’s audio and audiovisual media services, a plan detailed in its draft Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and Online Safety White Paper. Separately, the Competition Commission has released a working paper that provides an in-depth analysis of potential short- and long-term approaches for creating an ombud or a similar body.
The working paper is now open for public comment, with the closing date to be confirmed.
[28 April 2025]
The Commission now has until 22 August 2025 to complete its inquiry and release the final report.
Notice of extension granted for finalisation (17 April 2025)
[25 February 2025]
The Commission’s Provisional Report on the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) is now available.
MDPMI Provisional Report (Non-Confidential)
MDPMI Provisional Report Findings & Recommendations
[17 October 2023]
The Statement of Issues for this Inquiry has been published and can be found below, along with the administrative timetable outlining the process and schedule.
Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry: Statement of Issues
| Activity | Timelines | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Publication of Final Terms of Reference | 15 September 2023 | Completed |
| Publication of guidelines for participation | 15 September 2023 | Completed |
| Launch of the Inquiry | 17 October 2023 | Completed |
| Publication of Statement of Issues, inviting comments and submissions | 17 October 2023 | Completed |
| Issuing of first round questionnaires to stakeholders, Adtech and news media | 17-20 October 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders respond to first round questionnaires | 14 November 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders make submissions on the Statement of Issues | 14 November 2023 | Completed |
| Analysis of submissions received | 15 November – 24 November 2023 | Completed |
| Release of second round questionnaires to specific stakeholders | 27 November 2023 | Completed |
| Release of statement of further issues | 4 December 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders respond to second round questionnaires | 22 December 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders respond to Further Statement of Issues | 15 January 2024 | Completed |
| Analysis of submissions received | 8 January 2024 – 9 February 2024 | Completed |
| Preparation for public hearings | 12 February – 1 March 2024 | Pending |
| Virtual public hearings | 4 March – 22 March 2024 | Pending |
| Further information requests and/or questions of clarity from issues arising in the public hearings | 22 March 2024 | Pending |
| Response to requests for information and/or questions of clarity | 19 April 2024 | Pending |
| Submission of any expert reports | 19 April 2024 | Pending |
| Preparation of Provisional Report and individual stakeholder engagements (where required) | 22 April 2024 – 21 June 2024 | Pending |
| Issue Provisional Report for comments | 28 June 2024 | Pending |
| Stakeholders provide comments on provisional report | 8 August 2024 | Pending |
| Engagements with stakeholders on provisional report (where required) | August 2024 – September 2024 | Pending |
| Having regard to all comments received, prepare Final Report | October 2024 – January 2025 | Pending |
| Publication of Final Report | 27 January 2025 | Pending |
[15 September 2023]
The published Terms of Reference for this inquiry are now finalized.
Final Terms of Reference Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry
[14 July 2023]
Below are the submissions received in response to the Draft Terms of Reference for the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (“MDPMI”).
- Stakeholders of the MDPMI
- Microsoft
- SANEF, the Press Council, AIP, and Others
- National Association of Broadcasters
- Publishers’ Association of South Africa
- Centre for Data and Digital Communication School of Communication University of Johannesburg
- The Bundeskartellamt
- Remedy the adverse effect on competition
[17 April 2023]
The Competition Commission has initiated a market inquiry into the Media and Digital Platforms Market (MDPMI) by releasing draft terms of reference for public review and feedback.
In response to submissions received during the Online Intermediation Platforms Market Inquiry (OIPMI), the MDPMI will specifically investigate the impacts of the shift to digital news consumption and advertising on news publishers within South Africa.
This inquiry aims to assess how various digital platforms such as search engines, social media platforms, news aggregators, video sharing platforms, and generative AI affect competition in the news media sector. It will focus broadly on the industry’s reliance on these platforms.
Interested parties are invited to submit written feedback on the draft terms of reference by 16:00 on 20 April 2023 to Ms Noluthando Jokazi via email at mdpmi@compcom.co.za.
Draft Terms of Reference: Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry