Africa Day on the 25th May is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union in 1963.
Join us as we celebrate all that makes us African. As Africa’s oldest community radio station project, this day has a special significance to us.
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The video clip above features an amended extract from the, “I am an African” speech by Thabo Mbeki at the adoption of the RSA Constitution Bill, 8 May 1996 and was made by our trainees a few years ago.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications has announced that Bush Radio’s Managing Director Brenda Leonard is one of the candidates shortlisted to fill one of four vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board.
The addition of Leonard to the shortlist is a move in the right direction for the MDDA’s search for Board members, according to Bush Radio Programme Integrator Adrian Louw.
“Leonard’s standing within the community media sector, due to her commitment and level of integrity, as well as the wide range of skills she possesses, will be an asset to the MDDA. She has led Bush Radio through very trying times – and continues to do so – and the skills she’s gathered over 27 years of community radio involvement will provide the MDDA with much-needed direction on a strategic level.”
She spearheads Bush Radio’s drive to ensure more support for the community media sector.
Leonard is the Western Cape’s provincial secretary of the National Community Radio Forum, volunteer bookkeeper at the Mitchells Plain Advice and Development Project, and is on the journalism advisory committee for the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and a founding delegate of the United Nations Global Alliance on Media and Gender.
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 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.
· Support independent journalism so that media workers can report without fear or favour. Newsrooms should be free to make independent editorial decisions that favour public interest and preserve accountability.
· A free and independent press is essential at all times, but is particularly important during a health crisis such as the one we are currently experiencing. At a time when many seek information primarily online, the role of professional journalists, whom are trained to help sort through the flow and provide necessary guidance, is vital.
· No crisis can be resolved without accurate and reliable information. At all levels, from governments to individuals, the decisions we make can be a matter of life and death and must be based on facts and science.
· It is only through joint multilateral coordination that these crucial issues can successfully be addressed, and we are deeply committed to this global effort.
· It is also important to help the media and journalists report on the crisis effectively and safely, and to promote critical thinking to limit the spread of rumors and misinformation.
· On World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May, UNESCO calls on governments, media and civil society to join us in a global online movement to draw the world’s attention to these issues which are essential to the survival of our democracies. Together, we will ensure that our response to the crisis is effective. This unprecedented health crisis has the potential to rebuild citizens’ trust in the media.
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.
Lockdown is hard. We hope that all our supporters are doing all they can to stay safe. Stay home if you can. Use a mask when getting your grants or essentials.
The Bush Radio team continues to bring you accurate and true information, sharing your hardships as the team navigates getting to the station and keeping your favourite and new programmes going. A dedicated group is bringing you innovative, and exciting programming to help with the lockdown blues.
We also would like your ideas on what we could add to the programme schedule, especially during this time. Many have requested a return to our radio drama series and local artists are featuring even more than usual on our playlist.
As a not-for-profit community radio station we need your support. If you are in the position to assist the station please consider making a donation or direct transfer so that we can continue doing our work.
Our banking details:
Bank: Standard Bank Account Name: Bush Radio Account Number: 07 122 0194 Branch Name: Mowbray Branch Code: 004909 Bank address: 37 – 39 Main Road, Mowbray, Western Cape, South Africa, 7700 SWIFT address: SBZA ZA JJ
We ask all our listeners to take note of the lockdown extension announcement. Bush Radio will continue to keep you informed of the latest developments and we will continue to bring you some relief through our special programming.
The following is a statement issued on behalf of Bush Radio by Adrian Louw, Programme Integrator.
Dear Bush Radio listeners and supporters,
Due to the lockdown as announced by our government to help curb the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) we are forced to go onto automated playout systems from 19h00 tonight.
Most of our volunteers, staff and trainees make use of public transport which will be limited during the lockdown, and we need to keep them safe.
Live programming will start at 7am (Monday to Friday) and weekends will also see some special programming and rebroadcasts of our best programmes.
We have also implemented remote systems which will enable us to keep you informed of developments (24/7) around the lockdown, as well as other news, advice, alerts and public service announcements.
We hope to ease the lockdown blues with some of the best and most interesting radio programming you’ve come to expect from 89.5FM. These will include special collaborations with local artists, music specials, radio features, drama, and international news and talks ranging from Noam Chomsky to Angela Davis.
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