Ensure we never have another “Black Wednesday” #mediafreedom

The media in South Africa commemorates the infamous “Black Wednesday” which happened on the 19 October 1977, The World and Weekend World newspapers and several organisations were banned.

We have come a long way to media freedom in this country. Being Africa’s oldest community radio station project, which at one stage faced the full wrath of the apartheid government, we feel it is our duty and responsibility to promote accurate and fair reporting.

Bush Radio does not have the resources to be a “breaking news” station, but it is our duty to be accurate and give our listeners an opportunity to make up their own minds. This however can only happen if we present all sides of any argument, through good research and having access to role-players like politicians on a local, provincial and national level.

We call on all role-players who have an interest in improving the lives of the people on the Cape Flats to be accessible, especially to community media who truly speak and represent the people of Cape Town. It is only by engaging on the hard questions that we can truly claim to be improving the lives of citizens – and being a platform where people and audience can engage with political and social leaders. Thereby learning, healing and growing this wonderful city.

As a place where many young journalists start in their careers, we call upon our audience to hold us accountable and engage with us around our reporting and broadcasts.

Background on Black Wednesday:

On this day in 1977 in South Africa, then Minister of Justice Jimmy Kruger, banned The World and Weekend World newspapers by stating that these publications were “publishing inflammatory material that threatened the nation’s security” and the paper’s editor Percy Qoboza and other journalists were arrested and jailed.

19 organisations were also banned and apartheid critics were detained.

The organisations banned were BPC, SASO, Black Community Programmes, Black Parents Association, Black Women’s Federation, Border Youth Organisation, Eastern Province Youth Organisation, Medupe Writers Association, Natal Youth Organisation, National Youth Organisation, SASM, Soweto Students Representative Council, Soweto Teachers Action Committee, Transvaal Youth Organisation, Union of Black Journalists, Western Cape Youth Organisation, Zimele Trust Fund, Association for the Educational and Cultural Advancement of African People of South Africa.

Banning orders were also served on Beyers Naude and journalist Donald Woods.

*This is an edited version of a blog post which was published 19/10/2018

Related:

Basic protective measures against the Novel #Coronavirus – click here

Official websites for accurate information regarding COVID19:

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

Regulations and Guidelines – Coronavirus Covid-19

World Health Organisation

Western Cape Government Health Department

You can now download the official Bush Radio app on Google Play.

43 radio stations facing closure in South Africa

As we at Bush Radio fight to keep the station going financially through our crowdfunding campaign and engagements with government, we are concerned to learn of developments to close up to 43 community radio stations in South Africa.

The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), of which Bush Radio is a founding member, today issued a press statement highlighting the plans of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to shut down certain stations for various reasons.

Today we commemorate Black Wednesday 42 years ago – October 19, 1977 – when the apartheid government banned several newspapers, organisations and journalists.

Today, ICASA, an institution for which Bush Radio fought hard to be established, wants to shut down more than 40 community radio stations. The effect will be the same as then – limiting media freedom and alternative voices in the broadcast sector.

Bush Radio strongly urges our democratically elected government to intervene in this matter. We ask ICASA to look at a positive resolution to help secure the future of the community radio sector.

READ: Press Release: Shutdown of 43 Community Radio stations by ICASA

See below for the names of the stations affected.

1. Lekwa FM
2. Lukhanji FM
3. Mohokare FM
4. MP East Community Radio
5. Nkungumathe FM
6. Ncuthu Community Radio
7. Zibonele FM
8. Greater Middleburg FM
9. Merafong FM
10. KZN Capital FM
11. Catitura Community Radio
12. Mozolo FM
13. Lephalale FM
14. Greater Zaneen FM
15. Phalaborwa FM
16. The Rock FM
17. Devine Touch FM
18. Emmanuel Haven
19. East Griekwaland FM
20. Franshoek Community Radio
21. Giyani Youth FM
22. Hlanganani FM
23. Kanyamaza FM
24. Kingfisher FM
25. Kopel Studio
26. Lebowakgomo FM
27. Lekho Community Radio
28. Lentswe FM
29. Lethabong Community Radio
30. Letlhabile FM
31. Radio Kaap se Punt
32. Radio Sekunda
33. Radio Unique
34. Radio Renosterberg
35. Siyathuthuka FM
36. Sunshine Community Radio
37. Swartland FM
38. Ubuhle Beshowe FM
39. UCT Community Radio
40. Vaal Community Radio
41. Endermark Community Radio
42. Bophirima FM
43. Naledi Community Radio

Link to our crowdfunding campaign

From the archive: Jay Naidoo

In 1997 Bush Radio moved from Queenspark Avenue (where Voice of the Cape is now) to our current premises at 330 Victoria Road. It took a long hard slog to turn the building from an open plan warehouse into broadcasting studios but we managed to do it.

Just after the move we invited the then Minister of Telecommunications, Post and Broadcasting, Jay Naidoo to officially open our studio.

Some info on Jay Naidoo (source: The Just Cause)

Jay Naidoo was the founding General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the country’s largest federation of unions, which played a leading role in the struggle for freedom in South Africa. He served two successive terms before forming part of South Africa’s first democratic government. From 1994 to 1999, he was Minister in the President’s Office responsible for the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and later Minister of Telecommunications, Post and Broadcasting in Nelson Mandela’s cabinet.