28 January 2000
Today (Friday, January 28, 2000) Communications Minister Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri opened four new community radio stations in the Free State, giving an additional one million mainly rural dwellers a voice with which to be heard.
The four stations are: Setsoso Community Radio (Ficksburg), Mosupatsela FM (Botshabelo), Naledi Radio (Senekal) and Qwa Qwa Community Radio Station.
Prior to this switch-on, there were only three community stations in the Free State with a total estimated listenership of 800 000 people.
These are the first four of 36 stations which have benefited from a multi-million rand community radio support project managed by the Department of Communications in collaboration with the Kgaso Fund, the National Community Radio Forum and the Independent Media Trust. They are located in each of the nine provinces.
The Department of Communications identified a need to provide broadcasting infrastructure to poor communities to ensure that the communication needs of these communities were met. Stations which have had their equipment provided by the Department of Communications have been granted a four-year community broadcasting licence by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).
KwaZulu has the most with 10 stations selected. These are Durban Women Community Radio, Port Shepstone Community Radio, Empangeni Women Community Radio, Kazamula Community Radio, Chatsworth Community Radio, Maputoland Community Radio, Newcastle Community Radio, Eshowe Community Radio, Stanger Community Radio and Dundee Community Radio.
The Eastern Cape follows with eight stations. These are Butterworth, Herschel, Umtata, Aliwal North, Imonti, Port Elizabeth and Vukani Community Radio in Cala.
There are two in the Northern Cape – Teemaneng and Kaboesna Community Radio (Calvinia); one in the Western Cape (Institute for Space Applications) and three in the Northern Province: Mohodi, Botlokwa and Moletsie.
Mpumalanga has two: Ekangala and the Greater Middleburg Community Radio (Witbank); while the North West Province has four - Vaaltar, Moretele, Mabopane and Lethabile.