The Spirit of the Silinga’s (Tribute to Raymond Silinga)

Raymond Silinga (31 January 1977 to 30 March 2023)

A tribute to Raymond Silinga by Bush Radio Programme Integrator, Adrian Louw

April is a significant month in South Africa – it is the month we mourn but also celebrate the life of one of the greatest leaders, Chris Hani.

Unfortunately, this time of the year will now also be a reminder of the loss of another leader who passed on to soon.

Raymond Silinga.

Raymond joined Bush Radio, Africa’s oldest community radio station project, as an intern in our newsroom in the late nineties – a time when we were still euphoric about the change that occurred in our country, and filled with hope, passion and energy for the potential of our new democracy.

He then grew from being a journalism student doing his practical from the Peninsula Technikon to be the head of our newsroom.

At Bush Radio every department is important but we felt, due to our history, that news was at the forefront of our newly earned democracy. We wanted to make sure that we hold the government and its institutions accountable to the people – one of its most important functions.

Bush Radio felt lucky in having Raymond, someone who understood the importance of this role of the media…and to make sure that we never…ever see the darkness of our terrible past again.

But luck had nothing to do with it… it was the struggle… the struggle, for our people to be free, to demand, and fight for the rights for all our people. Especially the rights of those who still suffer from the evil legacy of apartheid.

Raymond never called on his families’ struggle credentials to prove his worth – but the spirit and blood of Anne Silinga ran strong in his veins.

Raymond’s passion to hold officials accountable was visible in his passion for leading the team in covering our second democratic national elections. Even with his own strong political beliefs, he ensured that all political parties in Cape Town received fair coverage on Bush Radio.

Perhaps this was because he knew how fragile democracy is, or remembering the sacrifices of so many to achieve our liberation, he never took his role lightly.

We asked Raymond’s former news editor at Bush Radio, Juanita Williams, to share a memory of Raymond and of her time working with him: “His smile. Not something he did often while working, but it did the light-up-the-room thing. Also his no-nonsense attitude. We didn’t always agree, and debates were plentiful. I’m so sad that I won’t randomly run into him in town to see him flash that smile and hear his smooth voice. I’m so sorry that his career was cut short, he had so much to contribute.”

We also asked another of Raymond’s former colleagues, Berenice Joshua Moss, who is a journalist at the SABC to share her thoughts with us: “When I started my journey at Bush Radio in 2002, Raymond Silinga was my Editor and mentor in the news room. A smart dresser and always very precise. He was always straight to the point and you knew what was expected of you.

Raymond enabled me to follow my passion for court and crime reporting by allowing me to go on certain assignments. But made sure that I produced a story worthy of making it to air. Early morning diary meetings set the tone for the day and Raymond made sure we all understood what we needed to do.  He was my first Editor in my journalism career. Thank you for the lessons learnt Raymond.

May you rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Raymond’s passion for politics and his willingness to debate created a newsroom that any journalist would have been proud to serve in – and his snazzy dress sense meant Bush Radio didn’t look too disheveled at public functions.

To those who knew Raymond, we share your sense of loss, but we think as Raymond knew… that our democracy is precious, that our futures are precious… that taking care of this fragile gift that our ancestors gave us can also be a burden… but it is something that must be protected, and we must remember who we are doing it for.

In radio training we always remind people that when you are in studio you need to imagine that you are talking to one person…at Bush Radio we also remind newcomers that we exist to make our people’s lives better – that we are here to serve.

When our previous managing director, the late Zane Ibrahim, ended our staff meetings, he would always remind people that they need to visualize Mrs Silinga in Langa — much to Raymond’s embarrassment — and would ask staff and volunteers: “Did you? At the end of your shift … make her life better?”

Raymond, you made our lives better– you always made sure that Mrs Silinga in Langa’s life was better at the end of your shift.

We will miss you.

Aluta Continua