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.
World Press Freedom day (3 May) is a date which celebrates the principles of press freedom, to evaluate and defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
World Press Freedom day also acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect and commitment to press freedom.
It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.
The media in South Africa commemorates the 41st anniversary of 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 – this is proving harder and harder as officials simply refuse to comment or respond to questions from our newsroom and producers.
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.
19 October marks the 40th anniversary in South Africa of the infamous “Black Wednesday”.
On this day in 1977 in South Africa, then-minister of justice Jimmy Kruger banned The World and Weekend World. He justified the banning 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.
Among 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.
We have released the video and poster above in support of media freedom. Share and show your support.
It was with great shock and sadness that Bush Radio yesterday learned of the passing of Cape Town legendary musician Zayn Adam – all of us would like to send our condolences to his family, friends and fellow musicians.
Below is a copy of the story filed by the Bushradionews yesterday.
Cape Town music legend Zayn Adams died on Sunday at the age of 67-years-old.
He was born in 1947 in Salt River and when he was 15-years-old he joined the Golden City Dixes carnival show, however he was best known for leading the band called Pacific Express.
One of Adams song that he will be remembered for is Give a little love.
Bush Radio’s volunteer Doctor Victor Davids, said Adam was a soft spoke human being with a big heart and his passing leaves a massive vacuum.
Davids said “I don’t know how we going to replace that as recently he was on stage at the Baxter theatre on the 14 February valentine’s day performing and doing what he loves the most and what he does best is to give of himself to other people”.
“Rest in peace Zayn Adams your music will live in us forever” Davids added.
The campaign celebrates 20 years of democracy in South Africa, Shifty’s 30th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the Voëlvry tour.
A number of events are planned for September, culminating in the Shifty Heritage Music Festival on Heritage Day in Johannesburg, featuring many of the label’s legendary artists.
What can you win?
If you pledge your support by buying any Shifty September reward, and enter your name in the Wrong Rock Show give-away, you stand a chance of winning one “The Vinyl Solution” reward, which includes:
• Voëlvry LP [signed by surviving Voëlvryers]
• Repackaged: Bigger than Jesus LP [signed by Warrick Sony]
• Pot-luck of 3 rare original still-in-their-plastic Shifty Records [it’s a surprise]
• 2 tickets to the Shifty Heritage Music Festival
• A thank you with your name on the virtual wall of thanks exhibition + a surprise Shifty gift
• We will verify your pledge with Shifty Records and on 16 September 2014, once the Thundafund campaign is closed, we will draw one name from those entered as the winner of the vinyl goodies.
Tune in! On Monday 1 September 2014 the Wrong Rock Show will be joined by Warrick Sony for a special 2-hour preview of the Shifty compilations to be released as part of the campaign.
They are:
• Shifty & Quirky
• Shifty Blue
• Shifty Love
• Shifty Pop
• Shifty Protests
• Shifty Rocks
Please note:
• If you cannot attend the festival and cannot nominate anyone to receive your tickets, we will draw another name to give your tickets to.
• If you cannot attend the festival and collect your LP’s, you will be asked to pay postage for delivery.
Thousands of people flocked to the Cape Town Stadium to celebrate the life of the late Former President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday. Madiba died at his Johannesburg home on Thursday evening, at the age of 95.
The function started with performances from various local artists which was followed by the National Anthem where the crowed sung in unity.
Chairperson of the African National Congress in the Western Cape Marius Fransman saluted the former icon for the role he played in the struggle and uniting the people of South Africa.
Fransman said we remember you as a freedom fighter, a revolutionary, activist and the father of the nation. The spirit of tata Mandela is already affecting us, let’s continue emulating his legacy.
The atmosphere was joyous with several people holding placards of Madiba, with many wearing Madiba t-shirts chanting Rolihlahla.
After MC Shado Twala opened the service, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille took the podium where she described Mandela as a leader, a visionary and the very best among us.
“I say that we must choose to live hope, I say that we must choose to live in the world of the vision of Mandela, I say we must make Tata Madiba to live forever in our efforts to make South Africa a country he will be proud of” De Lille added.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille told the crowd of her privilege of seeing Madiba earlier in the day as he laid in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. She opened the stage by singing a struggle song “uMadiba abazenge bam’mbone,”
Zille said Madiba was in peace and his face symbolized what South Africa has become, one nation at peace with ourselves and the world, one nation building one future.
Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel closed by saying Madiba belonged to all of us and we will celebrate him together as the spirit of Madiba lives inside us all.
But even as we grieve for the father of our nation, we remember that Madiba represented hope – hope that dedication, perseverance and going beyond individual goals is noble and worthy. Bush Radio,together with all South Africans, mourn the passing of Nelson Mandela – freedom fighter, our first president and an inspiration to the world.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013
Nelson Mandela Biography:Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Mvezo, a village near Mbatha in the Transkei, on July 18, 1918. His father, Henry Mgadla Mandela, was the principal councillor to the Acting Paramount Chief of the Thembu and Mandela was preparing to eventually take over the position after his father’s death. But Mandela had dreams of helping his people in the fight for freedom.
He was educated at a local mission school where he was given the name Nelson. After his primary education, he was sent to Heraldtown, a Wesleyan secondary school. He then enrolled at Fort Hare where he was elected onto the Students’ Representatives Council. He was suspended from university for joining a protest. Then he and his cousin ran away to Johannesburg to escape arranged marriages.
He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree through the University of South Africa and then began studying for his LLB. He joined the African National Congress in 1943, a year after he graduated. In the midst of his political activities, he met his first wife, Evelyn Mase. A few months after meeting, they were married and eventually had four children. They divorced in 1958.
In 1944, a group of 60 young ANC members, including Mandela, joined forces to create the African National Congress Youth League, which hoped to transform the ANC into a more radical movement. They thought that the current political tactics would never emancipate South Africa. Mandela was elected as the league’s national secretary in 1948. Mandela impressed his peers with his disciplined and hard-working ways and was elected to the NEC.
He later became president of the youth league, and was elected National Volunteer-in-Chief in 1952 just as the ANC launched its Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws, which involved mass civil disobedience. Mandela travelled the country organising resistance to discriminatory legislation. As a result, Mandela was given a suspended prison sentence for defying the Suppression of Communism Act and was confined to Johannesburg for 6 months.
Also in 1952 he opened South Africa’s first black law firm in Johannesburg with his friend Oliver Tambo. But under the land segregation legislation, the authorities demanded that they move their practice out of the city. Mandela and Tambo refused. During the early fifties, Mandela led the resistance against the Western Area removals, Bantu Education and the Freedom Charter.
During the fifties, Mandela was banned, arrested and imprisoned. And he vowed to not follow the rules and regulations of his oppressors. In 1958, Mandela married Nomzamo Winnie Mandela. They had no time for a honeymoon because Nelson had to appear in court for the Treason Trial. He was one of the 156 people accused in the Treason Trial.
His incarceration put a damper on his political and legal work. After the Treason Trial collapsed in 1961, the ANC was banned and Nelson Mandela emerged as its underground leader. In March of 1961 Mandela addressed the All-in African Conference and challenged the apartheid regime to create a new, democratic constitution. He then went underground to lead the campaign. Mandela had many disguises to evade the police, which earned him the name the Black Pimpernel. He and other ANC leaders created a new section of the liberation movement that prepared for an armed struggle. He felt that continuing non-violent tactics was unrealistic since the government continued to meet their peaceful efforts with violence.
Mandela travelled abroad to Swaziland in 1962 and was arrested shortly after his return to South Africa for illegally leaving the country. He acted as his own defence attorney during the trial and was convicted and sentenced to five years of prison. He was transferred to Robben Island in May 1963. He and 10 others were charged with sabotage shortly after.
The Rivonia Trial lasted 8 months. Mandela decided that if given the death sentence, he would not appeal because he was prepared to die for his ideals. Mandela was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island. After 18 years at Robben Island, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town in 1982 and then to Victor Verster Prison near Paarl in 1988. While in prison, Mandela refused to accept Bantustan policy in December 1988 in exchange for a reduced sentence. He also refused release from prison in exchange for renouncing violence.
In prison, Mandela started a dialogue with the government based on the following conditions:
– The release of all political prisoners
– The unbanning of all banned organisations
– The return of all exiles
– The unconditional disbanding of Apartheid and all its laws
He was released from prison on February 11, 1990, and worked diligently to free South Africa from apartheid. In 1991 he was elected President of the ANC. In 1993 Mandela accepted the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of all South Africans who worked so hard and suffered so much to achieve peace. After apartheid officially ended on April 27, 1994, Mandela and all South Africans voted for the first time. Mandela was elected as President of a democratic South Africa and was inaugurated on May 10, 1994. He served one term as president until 1999. After retiring from politics, Mandela went on to set up three foundations: The Nelson Mandela Foundation, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and The Mandela-Rhodes Foundation. After his presidency, he continued his tireless efforts to foster democracy and equality and help the oppressed and deprived.
He will always be a hero not only to the South African people, but also to the world.
World Press Freedom day
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