Video clip of Bush Radio streaming live in New YorkListen to the Bush Radio / WRHU broadcast
The broadcast consisted of a “Taste of Cape Town with Wayne McKay, Lerato Mashile and Mitchum George followed by the WRHU team interviewing a Bush Radio panel consisting of:
This year in the lead up to World Radio Day, Bush Radio was invited to participate in a broadcast with WRHU Radio Hofstra University 88.7 FM in the United States as part of their global celebration.
Join us this Friday, 12 February at 3pm as we take the Cape Flats to New York and beyond.
Wayne McKay, Lerato Mashile and Mitchum George will host a “Taste of Cape Town” and this will be followed by the WRHU team interviewing Bush Radio Alumni and discussing the power of community media, its role in Africa, challenges, innovative radio programming, training and the impact of the station in Africa and globally.
Trevor Davids – a media specialist, entrepreneur and Bush Radio volunteer engaged in developing radio programmes
Adrian Louw – Bush Radio Programme Integrator and media trainer
*Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). This year WRD is divided into three subthemes:
Evolution – The world changes, radio evolves.
Innovation – The world changes, radio adapts and innovate.
Bush Radio’s Managing Director Brenda Leonard gave the committee members and MDDA a tour of the station and after that gave a short presentation on the state of community media in South Africa.
Chairperson of the committee, Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane being interviewed
Some of the challenges that Bush Radio highlighted in the presentation included: Sentech-transmission cost, SAMRO‘s-calculation of fees, SAARF‘s research methodology and accuracy, the funding structure of community media in South Africa, as well as issues around the advertising industry and the current state of development of the community media sector.
After the presentation Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications Sikumbuzo Eric Kholwane thanked Bush Radio for being a long and outstanding example of a community radio station. He added that he is grateful that Bush Radio is still holding the fort, and a great example to coming generation.
MPs and other members of the delegation listening to the Bush Radio briefing
Member of Parliament and Chief Whip of the Committee on Communications Annelize van Wyk said Bush Radio is a better example of a community radio. Van Wyk added that Bush Radio serves as a blueprint of what community radio stations need.
MP Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen (left) making notes during the briefing
Busisiwe Mtabane, presenter of Sakhisizwe interviewing Mildred Mme Lesiae
On Tuesday the 9th August 2011, Bush Radio 89.5FM celebrated National Women’s day at Mildred ‘Mme’ Lesiae’s house in Gugulethu. Mme is one of the leading women who organised a women’s march on the 9th August 1956 from Cape Town to Pretoria.
The four-hour emotional event was attended by more than 25 women of different ages, and two of our shows Sakhisizwe by Busisiwe Mtabane and Backchat by Lelethu Mquqo were broadcast from Mme’s house.
The young women interviewed by Lelethu Mquqo were, from left to right, Zimasa Ndzule, Siphokazi Xameni, Nothando Zama Zantsi, Philiswa Saliwa, Siyasanga Ndlwana and Busisiwe Rhafu.
According to Bush Radio’s Managing Director Brenda Leonard, the purpose of the event was to give all veterans the opportunity to tell their stories and for young people to learn from it.
The wise and old women took us back to the struggles and challenges they faced under the apartheid regime, telling us stories of the bad treatment they received in various places of work.
Lelethu Mquqo for Backchat, interviewing Grace de Klerk
Lelethu Mquqo, presenter of Backchat, said: “The event was uplifting and very inspirational; I was overwhelmed by the wisdom of the older women. The younger women I interviewed however gave me hope that not all is lost and there are some young people who are continuing with the struggle.”
‘It was very interesting and inspiring to talk to these women and we need more of these events,” said Busisiwe Mtabane, presenter of the Sakhisizwe show.
The veterans were joined by three young women who shared their experiences in the new democratic South Africa. Zimasa Ndzule; Public Relations student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, said: “The event was very touching and it made me realise how I should appreciate and acknowledge my mother who made me the woman I am today.”
Tammy Fisher, Bush Radio production assistant, with ANC Women's League veterans; Florrie De Villiers and Dorothy Gopie.
The Bush Radio 89.5FM Women’s Day event touched the lives of all those who tuned into the show. The saying “you strike a woman, you strike a rock”, was indeed a true reflection of the spirit of togetherness amongst women.
Mme, a very wise woman, who invested a great amount of time into the fight for women liberation said: “Alone you can’t do it, we were six people and started an organisation, it spread and many women joined in because we were able to mobilise and it became a home to many people.”
We found out that the television journalist enjoys listening to the Breakfast Show (via Twitter) and we felt it was only right that he had an opportunity to join the craziness in the studio.
Dreadlock brothers: Lester Kiewit looks on while Chad Saaiman explains his hairstyle
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for Victor J, Chad Saaiman joined them in the studio.
They discussed Saaiman’s new CD The Flight but – because the guest presenter and musician share a hairdresser – the conversation turned to their signature dreadlocks! And the speed at which Bush Radio gets up video, audio and pictures.
Brenda Leonard: Bush Radio's new Managing Director
We at Bush Radio are pleased to announce that Brenda Leonard has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Africa’s oldest community radio station project.
Leonard takes over the reins from Zane Ibrahim who headed the station from 1996 and retired at the end of February 2010.
During South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, Brenda occupied various roles within the liberation movement and was deeply involved in student politics in the Western Cape – as well as leading transformation within various communities on the Cape Flats.
Leonard who headed the Bush Radio’s financial and administration departments was critical to ensuring success during our first license hearing post-1994 and all subsequent license hearings. She was instrumental in drafting policies and procedures and ensuring that these policies, whether training, employment or programming is gender sensitive – as well as ensuring that we had one of the first HIV and AIDS workplace policies in the country – a model which has been exported to numerous radio stations and organisations.
Watch Brenda talking on the role, challenges and priorities of Bush Radio
She has also been in the forefront of ensuring that radio can be used as a tool for gender, political and health education.
Leonard has been active in the establishment of, and training at, several radio stations in the region, as well as giving input to Parliament and other bodies on issues related to media and freedom of expression.
She is married to Jerimia Thuynsma and has two children, Ashley-K, 13 years old, and 9 year-old Amilcar Cabral.
Leonard holds a Communication Science degree from the University of South Africa.
***Brenda will be interviewed by Backchat’s, Bassie Montewa at 15h30 today (30 March 2010) on 89.5 FM – listen online ***
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