A wrap of the National Community Radio Corporate Governance Indaba

About 400 delegates from various community radio stations in the country attended the National Community Radio Corporate Governance Indaba in Polokwane from the 20th to the 26th of September 2012.

The Department of Communication was in charge of the first two days.  Various speakers addressed the delegates, including Minister of Communications Dina Pule, Director General from the Department of Communication, Ms Rosey Sekese, Chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Dr Stephen Ngcube, Sipho Mathedimusa from the South African Revenue Services, Chief Executive Officer of Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Lumko Mtimde and Chief Director of Government Communications Information System (GCIS), Donald Liphoko.

Portfolio Committee Chairperson on Communication Eric Kholwane said one of the committee’s aim is that by 2014 each municipality has a community station. According to Kholwane it should be government’s responsibility to make sure that community stations are sustainable.

MDDA Chief Executive Lumko Mtimde said they are looking into having a central booking and monitoring system for advertising for all community radio.  MDDA is also planning a community radio museum where it will display old equipment from stations like Bush Radio and Radio Zibonele.

From the 22nd to the 25th September, the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) took over the programme with three concurrent training workshops to develop the sector.  Several issues were dealt with including Corporate Governance and Leadership, Sales and Financial Sustainability and High Performance Team Management and Motivation.

These three sessions dealt with the current challenges faced by community radio stations and also outlined the prospects towards growth and the advancement of the sector.

The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) took over the conference on the last day, convening member stations into a national general council.  Several issues were up for discussion including membership fees, provincial hubs, one rate card for all stations for GCIS and NCRF to have a training and capacity programme as a project on its own and to roll out the sector skills plan.

The DOC released a discussion document at the conference entitled Corporate governance as a foundation to sustainability.  The document was not received well by the delegates as it portrayed the sector in a biased negative light, it was proposed that the document be withdrawn. NCRF said it is concerned in the manner the discussion document showed the situation of Corporate Governance in the sector, which is very one-sided.

NCRF stated that Community Radio in the country continues to play a developmental role in communities, creating platforms for dialogue, debates and freedom of expression in local communities.

The mother gets soccer fever

FIFA's Jerome Valcke and the LOC's Danny Jordaan with some of the Bush Radio staff and trainees

Original story published by Bush Radio News – 25 May 2010

With just over 10 days left before kick-off to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Africa’s oldest community radio, Bush Radio had the honour to host soccer bosses during its afternoon-drive show.

FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke accompanied by Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan were in studio with Everyday People’s Sive Msolo and Freedom Raphela.

Central to their discussions was the state of readiness for Africa’s first ever soccer showpiece.

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VIDEOS:

WATCH: Jerome Valcke’s message to all South Africans

WATCH: Danny Jordaan’s message to all South Africans with a little warning to the Stormers

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Valcke said the country was more than ready to welcome the world for the soccer spectacle.

“South Africa is ready for the world, which I think is the most important thing today, you will see that when the world comes to South Africa we will not only have 31 teams, but five thousand media representatives, officials, fans and all around 400 000 people coming to the country,” said Valcke.

Valcke said when these people leave the country after the 32 day soccer tournament, they will attest that they had a great time in the country.

Asked about the legacy of the tournament Jordaan said the country will benefit through sustainable develop in the areas of transport infrastructure as well as economic opportunities.

“If you look into transport, there has been a transport revolution in the country. We have upgraded the airport in Cape Town which means we will have more aircrafts landing therefore more people coming boosting tourism,” Jordaan said.