The National Community Radio Forum issued a press statement after their meeting with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) yesterday.
Again Bush Radio is very concerned about these developments and we believe that a closure of one station is worrying. We call upon all parties involved to look for an amicable solution for the continued survival and growth of the community radio sector.
We also encourage communities, individuals, organisations and businesses to support their community radio stations.
This morning during a scheduled engagement with the Community Media sector and the new Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu before his budget vote to Parliament, members of the sector handed a memorandum to the minister to highlight the current plight of community media.
The Minister felt that he was ambushed by the sector as he was under the impression that it was a simple “meet and greet”.
Below is the memorandum as it was issued.
MEMORANDUM TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, 17 July 2019
Community radio, print and TV sectors
Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the country
has made impressive gains in the promotion of media diversity through support
for emerging, small commercial newspapers and community broadcasting services
serving the majority of the people who were previously excluded.
In the early 90’s media activists, many of whom are in
this room today, fought for the establishment of the Media Development and
Diversity Agency, tasked with the supporting community and independent media in
South Africa. Since then the regulator has license over 200 community radio
reaching an estimated audience of 8 million and 6 community TV stations
reaching an estimated, collective audience of 14 million.
Community Newspapers by Independent publishers print in
excess of 6 million copies per month with a readership that exceeds 20 million
South Africans in all 11 official languages. Collectively the sector employs
tens of thousands of previously disadvantaged individuals countrywide.
Unfortunately, in the last decade or so, these impressive
gains have been rolled back as stations have struggled for survival in the face
of weakened institutions (MDDA, GCIS and ICASA), state capture, government
complacency and failed promises.
Year after year the sector attends “engagements” with the
DoC, GCIS and the MDDA. Every year we regurgitate the same challenges and
propose the same solutions. Every year the government and its agencies promise
to address the issues and then nothing is done.
This year is different. The community media sector is on
the verge of collapse with an estimated collective debt sitting at around R180
million. This is made up largely of debts to SAMRO & CARPASSO, SENTECH,
SARS and rental. As we speak stations are being served eviction notices from
their premises, retrenching staff and getting deeper into debt.
It makes no difference whether the MDDA and GCIS report
to the DoC or to the Presidency, as long as something gets done. The sector simply cannot be allowed to fail.
We call upon the Presidency to implement the following immediate measures:
• Provide emergency relief funding to pay off the collective debt to SARS, SENTECH, SAMRO & CARPASSO (paid to stations or directly to debtors – to avoid CSD challenges) – R150 million for radio, R15 million for TV and R15 million for print.
• Increase MDDA budget to allow for annual grant for all community broadcasters and increased support for print publishers.
• Build MDDA capacity at board and operational level to speed up grant approval and disbursement.
• Implement the Parliamentary Portfolio Directive (Nov, 2011) to spend 30 % of government adspend on community media.
Additional measures to improve the sustainability of the sector are outlined in the full memorandum
Bush Radio 89.5FM has a vacancy for an energetic and organised Senior Administrative Assistant (see full criteria + job description below).
Application must include a detailed CV, with a minimum of 3 contactable references.
Application deadline: 16:00 on Friday, 3 July 2015.
***** UPDATE: Deadline extended to Sunday, 5 July 2015 @ 8pm ******
Applications can be emailed to admin@bushradio.co.za and should state: Senior Administrative Assistant Application 2015 in the subject line. No telephonic enquiries will be accepted.
Candidate must be available to start immediately.
Applicants not contacted within two weeks after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
Bush Radio reserves the right not to make an appointment.
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Position: Senior Administrative Assistant
Salary ranges from R60,000 – R84,000 per year depending on experience.
Skills required:
Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Turbocash/Pastel and internet / email)
Excellent reading and writing skills in English and Afrikaans or Xhosa
Strong interpersonal and communication skills • Strong administrative and financial skills
Experience required:
3 years prior experience in administration and finance (NGO or commercial environment)
Prior experience on SARS e-filing and Eazy File
Personality attributes:
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to adhere to deadlines
Ability to work within a team
Key Performance Areas:
Administration:
Stationery purchase and distribution
Do filing and updating of files
Ensure fixing of equipment
Record keeping
Liaise with stakeholders, clients and funders
Report writing
Finances:
Petty cash
Prepare financial books to trial balance (using Turbocash/Pastel)
Draft financial reports for the Station Manager
Bank reconciliation
Record keeping
Account payments and debt collections
Prepare and monitor budgets
Write proposals and reports to funders
Do all statutory returns, such as VAT, PAYE, SDL, and UIF
Personnel:
Keep and update all personnel records
Do work-schedules and make sure staff is on duty
Deal with all statutory requirements
Other:
Deal with advertising queries
Receive advertising schedules and reconcile with payments
Check advertising schedules and make sure that all material is at Bush Radio
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Bushradio 89.5 FM 