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Getting to grips with challenges of Community Radio @DeptDoc

Deputy Minister of Communications with Khusi and Tyler from the Morning Cruise

The Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Pinky Kekana visited Bush Radio on Thursday (10 May 2018) as a lead up to the department’s budget vote in Parliament.

During her visit, the deputy minister said that she is visiting Africa’s oldest community radio station project to better understand the challenges facing the sector and the unique challenges facing each station.

Intensive discussion with Bush Radio regarding the state of community media

After the visit to Bush Radio, Kekana addressed the National Community Radio Forum Western Cape Meeting where she said that the Sentech issue; where stations’ transmissions were cut due to arrears, was a wake-up call to the Department of Communication.

She said that the discussion on the challenges would be taken forward at the proposed Community Media Summit, and that the summit would be solution orientated.

The Deputy Minister being shown the operational transmitter used in Bush Radio’s pirate transmissions pre-1994

The Deputy Minister also discussed the role of government to provide an enabling environment for the sustainability of community broadcasters by assisting in opening doors from corporates through advertising.

Related:

Community Radio Under Attack From Sentech Demands

UPDATE: Community Radio Under Attack From Sentech Demands

Is the news important to you? #worldpressfreedomday #pressfreedom #WPFD18

The 3rd of May is World Press Freedom day.

We asked some of our listeners if news is important to them.

Join the conversation! Send us more comments on sms 32158 / whatsapp 0832973910 / Instagram / Twitter.  #worldpressfreedomday #pressfreedom #WPFD18

24 Hours of Freedom 2018

 

On Friday, 27 April 2018, South Africa’s Freedom Day –  Everyday People host Sive Msolo will attempt to broadcast for 24 hours straight on 89.5fm and online via www.bushradio.co.za.

He will host all the Friday programming on Bush Radio 89.5fm from 12am in the morning as we celebrate Freedom Day 2018 with 24 hours of Freedom.

Besides Sive hosting from the Breakfast Rush to Headwarmaz, he will also be highlighting what Freedom Day means and you are invited to call (021 448 6266), or SMS (32158), whatsapp (0832973910) or participate via twitter, facebook and instagram (#24hoursoffreedom).

Follow us on our social media links to catch live streaming of artists performances.

UPDATE: Community Radio Under Attack From Sentech Demands

The Minister of Communications, Ms. Nomvula Mokonyane has received a commitment from Sentech to reconnect all suspended stations and halt any suspensions while looking for solutions to assist the community radio sector. Mokonyane issued the statement after a meeting with Sentech, the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on Friday, 20th April 2018.

Several stations had been suspended due to non-payment of Sentech transmission costs which lead Bush Radio to issue a statement on their behalf.

The Minister also committed to hosting a Community Radio Sector Summit to be held in May 2018, that will provide a platform to further explore the variety of challenges and opportunities that obtain within the sector.

“The community radio sector is a critical communication platform to ensure we provide our people with access to information in their communities as a means towards the creation of an informed citizenry. It is for this reason that we cannot allow the sector to collapse” said Minister Mokonyane.

Read: Sentech to reconnect community radio stations suspended for non-payment

Related: Community Radio Under Attack From Sentech Demands

RIP Mr Green

Cape Town has lost another jazz legend. Ronnie Green passed away on the 15th April 2018.

Ronnie was a former volunteer presenter on Bush Radio and was a giant in the Cape Town jazz music scene as the host of Ronnie Green’s Jazz Scene which he ran from his home. It was a place where many received an education and appreciation for the music he loved.

Ronnie chatting to Sathima Bea Benjamin at Bush Radio

Mr Green, as he was affectionately called at Bush Radio was born on the 16th March 1939 and was introduced to the station by our former MD, Zane Ibrahim.

Our condolences to all who knew Mr Green, especially his family and friends. Ronnie, you made the world a better place.

Ronnie with Archie Schepp broadcasting from the Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Community Radio Under Attack From Sentech Demands

* Bush Radio is publishing the full press statement below issued by concerned community radio station managers in the interests of the community radio sector

13 April 2018

Sentech action gags community radio – A call to protect this valuable resource of community radio which provides media access to marginalised peoples.

More than 6 community radio stations across the country – including Hope FM, Forte FM and Karabo FM – are no longer broadcasting to their communities because their Sentech accounts are in arrears. Dozens of other stations are receiving threatening letters saying they face a “suspension of their services” if they do not pay up immediately.

“We asked to make a payment arrangement with Sentech, but the company’s expectations for a payment plan were unrealistic,” Duncan Sinthumule, Station Manager from Karabo FM in Free State says.

Sentech then declined the payment plan offered by the Karabo FM and wanted the station to pay R116,458.00 “immediately” with monthly payments of R52,152.90 for 18 months until the debt is settled.

”We cannot even afford to pay R15,000.00 per month, how will we be able to stick to their payment plan?” Sinthumule said.

As non-profit entities, community radio stations are expected to raise their own funds through advertising, sponsorship and fundraising.

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), a SOE created with the mandate to amongst others “promote media development and diversity by providing support primary to community and small commercial media projects” only receives a small budget from the Department of Communications (DOC), and cannot provide support to over 200 community radio stations in South Africa.

Radio stations have called for a meeting with Minister of Communications Ms Nomvula Mokonyane to discuss the matter, with an expected meeting in the week of April 16.

Our demands follow…

We demand:

• A moratorium on suspension of services by Sentech, and the switching-on of those stations taken off air
• Debt write-off or DOC to release funds for Sentech debt
• Restructuring of Sentech pricing for community radio stations
• An annual grant to community radio stations

These demands are not unreasonable. As community radio stations, we operate under slow-growing economic climate that makes income via advertising very difficult.

Unlike commercial radio stations, we spend our broadcast hours promoting democracy, nationalism, social cohesion, cultural practices, local indigenous languages and local music. We educate, inform and entertain our communities we serve, and do this – in most instances – without any support from the government.

Taking community radio stations off air is an attack on media pluralism, negating the gains made in the media under the democratic government over the past 22 years. It will take us another 20 years to recover from this damage caused by Sentech.

For interviews or more information, contact:

• Hope FM – Ntaps Moteka – 0791667566
• Karabo FM – Duncan Sinthumule – 0735792840
• Forte FM – Siya – 0732515487
• The Rock FM – Kenny Moholobela – 0734861627
• Eden FM – Morne Pietersen – 082 471 6253
• LAFM – Ignatius Mnyamana – 0790679635

Issued by: Bush Radio on behalf of the affected community radio stations

See you at the Jazz (Double Weekend Pass giveaway) #CTIJF

Bush Radio is giving you and your partner the chance to attend both days of the 2018 Cape Town International Jazz Festival happening at the CTICC on the 23rd and 24th of March.

We are giving away a set of double passes to 2 lucky listeners.

To qualify for the draw you need:

1. Follow us on twitter or Instagram or like our facebook page.
2. Send a minimum of 10 entries (each sms cost R1)

To enter this lucky draw SMS the keyword: JAZZ + your name and surname to 32158. (You will receive a sms confirming your entry)

Each double weekend pass is valued at over R2500.

The SMS line will close at 10am on Friday 23 March and the winners will be announced after 11am during the Morning Cruise. * You will need to collect your tickets by 2pm Friday if you are a winner with positive identification.*

Enter as often as you like to improve your chances.

 

Slideshow: #OpenStreets 25 February 2018

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On Sunday the 25th February 2018 the Bush Radio crew came out in support of Open Streets Main Road. The team headed by Sive Msolo broadcast the Love Booth and Retro Rewind from the pavement. The Shiraaz “Cazzman” Ramjee also pulled through to do his programme as well as braaing some lekker boerewors, while Yuzriq Meyer, moved up and down Victoria Road bringing us the gees from what was happening all along the Main Road.

The next Open Streets is scheduled for Mitchells Plain on the 25th March 2018. Perhaps we can get the rest of the Sunday team out there. Let us know in the comments what you think or if you could support us with an outside broadcast.

Dizzy Gillespie at 100

Tonight at 8pm on Connected 2 Jazz on Bush Radio 89.5FM we celebrate another centenary: that of innovative trumpeter and bandleader Dizzy Gillespie, who, with Monk, Charlie Parker and a few others, was responsible for introducing bebop into jazz.

John Birks Gillespie was born on 24 October 1917.