Almost 30 years after Bush Radio went on air to defy the apartheid government’s control of the airwaves, staff, volunteers and interns had the opportunity to host one of the first volunteers at the community radio station, Mervyn Swartz.
A representative of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the 1990s, Swartz can be seen in the Bush Radio Partial Eclipse documentary, and trained with “networkers” (the former term for Bush Radio volunteers) and partner organisations to establish community radio in South Africa and help free the airwaves from the apartheid government’s control. Originally an engineer, Swartz went on to serve as the director for Cosatu’s Campaign for Democratic Communications (CDC) in Johannesburg.
He was interviewed for a new documentary on the impact of community media, and Bush Radio grabbed the opportunity for new interns to meet him, and hear about his experiences in the early 1990s.
Bush Radio is constantly welcoming fledgling media disruptors and active citizens to the station, and listening to how the station was repeatedly denied a broadcast license by the repressive state, but still went on to broadcast without one, showed how important history is to the present day.
Debt figures in South Africa are rising. According to some reports households are spending three-quarters of their salary just to cover debt. This leaves very little for other essentials.
Bush Radio encourages you to think twice before spending on things you don’t really need.
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. By 2016, the commemorations had taken place in 132 countries.
That date was chosen to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990.
Every day at Bush Radio we offer a platform for people to talk about the issues and challenges that affect them. Encouraging active citizenship and changing how the Cape Flats is portrayed, how we see ourselves, each other and our land. This is our little way of recognising the strength, resilience and beauty we possess.
We don’t consider ourselves experts on any particular subject, but we provide a space (through 89.5 FM, online and social media) where people can help change their communities.
Our communities know the challenges that face them, and in most cases those very communities have innovative solutions to these challenges.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the phased easing of restrictions once the lockdown period ends.
“We cannot take action today that we will deeply regret tomorrow. We must avoid a rushed re-opening that could risk a spread, which would need to be followed by another hard lockdown, as has happened in other countries. We have to balance the need to resume economic activity with the imperative to contain the virus and save lives.”
Certain regulations and restrictions will remain in place and an alert system will be implemented nationally and in each province.
There will be five coronavirus alert levels:
Level 5 means that drastic measures are required to contain the spread of the virus to save lives.
Level 4 means that some activity can be allowed to resume subject to extreme precautions required to limit community transmission and outbreaks.
Level 3 involves the easing of some restrictions, including on work and social activities, to address a high risk of transmission.
Level 2 involves the further easing of restrictions, but the maintenance of physical distancing and restrictions on some leisure and social activities to prevent a resurgence of the virus.
Level 1 means that most normal activity can resume, with precautions and health guidelines followed at all times.
To ensure that our response to the pandemic can be as precise and targeted as possible, there will be a national level and separate levels for each province, district and metro in the country.
We are currently at Level 5, which requires a full national lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.
This is the highest level of lockdown and was imposed when drastic action was necessary to curb transmission.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed South African’s this evening (21 April 2020) on further economic and social relief measures to be introduced as we manage the COVID19 Pandemic.
Goucher College’s Eric Singer speaking with a Bush Radio intern
A popular saying at Bush Radio is that “Democracy is not a spectator sport”. For our democracy to work we have to be active citizens and engage, debate and express our views on all laws – especially the ones being drafted.
The City of Cape Town has called for comment on the City’s Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances Amendment By-law.
The By-law was first promulgated in 2007 and relates to the management of streets, public places, noise nuisances and other related matters on all properties in Cape Town.
Our proposed amendment aims to add and streamline procedural aspects of the By-law that support and enable necessary law enforcement, including:
effectively resolving complaints and situations relating to noise, and
reducing risk to the City, individuals and land owners by ensuring that these processes/actions are supported by legislation.
In terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, you can submit comments to the municipality.
The past September school holidays saw Bush Radio host a very successful Media Kidocracy Konfrence (MKK2013) – 22 to 27 September 2013. This was the 13th conference which drew young people from Bontheheuwel to as far away as Germany, participating in various discussions and productions around the theme “the role of media in democracy“.
The conference took place at the beautiful Mizpah Conference Centre in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve near Grabouw.
Team 1 of the photography group dealt with sexism and sexist stereotypes
Besides plenary sessions which dealt with media literacy, gender and elections, the conference also included visits to various media outlets around Cape Town (radio, television, print and online) and a special “give back to the community” outreach session at Agape 2 – home for disabled and abandoned children. The conference also included lifeskill sessions on active citizenship and substance abuse as well as daily outside broadcasts from Grabouw.
Team 2 of the photography group dealt with nature and pollution
The conference programme closed with what delegates always consider a highlight; the intensive production workshops which this year again included: television, radio, online, print, photography as well as two new productions; t-shirt and poster printing and a stage drama.
A special thanks goes to all the Bush Radio Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) facilitators and volunteers as well as the Bush Radio staff and trainees who provided the logistical support for the conference.
Bush Radio staff checking out “Media on the Move” – the newspaper produced by MKK2013 delegates
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Bushradio 89.5 FM 
Comment on City’s Plan to Amend the Nuisances By-Law
20/04/2020A popular saying at Bush Radio is that “Democracy is not a spectator sport”. For our democracy to work we have to be active citizens and engage, debate and express our views on all laws – especially the ones being drafted.
The City of Cape Town has called for comment on the City’s Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances Amendment By-law.
Please download the draft amendment on the City’s website and send in your comments.
About the By-law
The By-law was first promulgated in 2007 and relates to the management of streets, public places, noise nuisances and other related matters on all properties in Cape Town.
Our proposed amendment aims to add and streamline procedural aspects of the By-law that support and enable necessary law enforcement, including:
In terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, you can submit comments to the municipality.
Comments and objections may be submitted from 17 April –17 May 2020.
If you have online access please check the City’s document centre regularly.
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Tags:89.5, active citizenship, Bush Radio, bushradio, by law, cape town, City of Cape Town, draft bylaws, public comment
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