Spread the word #worldpressfreedomday

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 also acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect and commitment to press freedom.

It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

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.

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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

Essa Moosa – Always ready to fight the good fight

We are saddened by the loss of Judge Essa Moosa who had served as Bush Radio trustee and mentor at the formal establishment of the station in the early 1990s. Judge Moosa helped ensure that Bush Radio became the pioneering community radio station it is today and that the voice of all communities are heard.

Even though Judge Moosa was no longer a trustee of the station, he followed developments in the media and the station closely, and was a regular on-air guest to highlight the challenges faced by the Kurds through his work with the Kurdish Human Rights Action Group.

His lessons of dignity, self-pride, searching for knowledge and fighting for the rights of all are values we cherish and strive to maintain and pass on to all the young people who are now part of the station.

The above clip is from the Bush Radio documentary Partial Eclipse. Judge Essa Moosa confronts officials from the apartheid regime Post Office, police and security Special Branch as they raid Bush Radio offices in 1993 to confiscate and charge members of the station for broadcasting illegally.

Judge Essa Moosa passed away in Cape Town on February 26, 2017.

We salute you

A brief biography of Essa Moosa*

Judge Essa Moosa was born on 8 February 1936 in District Six, Cape Town. He qualified as an Attorney-at Law and was admitted to practice by the High Court of the Supreme Court, Cape Town on 1 June 1962. He practised as an Attorney in Cape Town until December 1997 and in 1998 was appointed as a judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court in Cape Town, officially retiring on 8 February 2011. He has six siblings, is married and continues to live in Cape Town.

Specialising in human rights issues for almost 40 years, he challenged, in court violations of basic human rights such as detention without trial, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, security and emergency legislations and regulations. During this time he acted for a number of prominent non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, leading political and community activists. In 2012 the University of the Western Cape conferred an Honorary Doctorate in law on him in recognition of his contribution in the field of human rights.

He was a founding and executive member of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers and chaired its Human Rights Committee. He was a member of the Constitutional Committee of the African National Congress (ANC), which gave logistical support to the ANC negotiation team for the establishment of a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. He also served as the Provincial Election Agent for the ANC in the region of the Western Cape for the first democratic elections in April 1994.

In addition he serves in a voluntary position as trustee of the University of the Western Cape, a position he has held for more than 20 years. He has also served as the Chairperson of the Council of the Peninsula Technicon and later as a member of the Council until the merger of the institute with the Cape Technicon. He was a founding member and trustee of the community based media initiatives including; Bush Radio, Grassroots Publications, Saamstaan Newspaper (Southern Cape) and South Newspaper.

*Source: International Peace and Reconciliation Initiative

Related:

Hamba Kahle Vincent Kolbe

Johnny Issel: Everything that was noble in the Struggle

Bush Radio mourns, Professor William T. McClain (1923-2011)

Listen to your heart – remembering Zane Ibrahim

What Joining #FeesMustFall Protest Meant to Me

Bush Radio trainee breakfast presenter Yuzriq Meyer took time after his morning show to join students in the #FeesMustFall protests – more than being moved by what he saw, it was what he felt that had a greater impact, here is his story:

So today i had a first hand experience of what the ‪#‎FeesMustFall‬ protests are like

Being a radio presenter and speaking on matters I have no idea about would prove to be beyond ignorant, so in attempts to better understand the situation, students and the protest I joined in the NON-VIOLENT protest.

First we congregated at CPUT Cape Town Campus and made our way to the city centre and then through to Waterfront to get to Granger bay Campus.

This journey was not a easy one, as police barricaded the entry through the city.Multiple shot gun shots were fired into the sky to scare the students,but to no avail.

The students grew more passionate to get their point across and continue their protest. 100s of shops in the city closed their doors in fear that the students might hurt them or loot their shops.

But these students were not violent,nor were they out to harm anyone. They came to sing struggle songs and knock on the doors of government to request answers and let the them know they are unhappy with the 6% increase

But what television does not show you from the 1000s and 1000s of students protesting, it could easily be only 20 students with clear anger issues or a vandalistic nature or just plain stupid that throw bricks or bottles or kick doors.

This is not even a quarter of the students that are just ignorant and haven’t a cooking clue what a non -violent protest is because they cannot internalise their anger.

And during times when a few seem to get angry or violent 100s of the other students shout at them and said “No this is a peaceful protest,don’t be stupid”

Anyways I walked with the students and if something was clear to me is that these young people were not going to back down until not only government but the world hears their cries for change.

They screamed in the streets “We are the Mandela kids, we are the new generation and we will fight for our rights- Fees Must Fall – Fees Must Fall”

The sheer passion of the students was out of this world.

I may not have been around in the apartheid era in freedom struggle as an active participator, but from my experience of today i may have a better understanding to what it was like to be in the atmosphere of passionate comrades and the feeling of camaraderie in the air.

But only this time every single race was present. Black White & Coloured.

And to all the people sitting at home complaining about violent protesters, my analogy would be imagine 5 kids at a school breaking the toilet door and the principal decides to keep the whole school to pay for a few people’s stupidity, so i urge you to join in so you can see what exactly happens and also understand that those few ignorant people part of the group are not in any way a reflection of these kids and what they stand for.

These kids are saying no to a 6% increase on varsity fees and down with corrupt government that does not answer it’s youth and leaders of tomorrow.

I’ve said it then and i’ll say it again #FeesMustFall

I believe in your fight Comrades.Not just for you but for the future of this beautiful country.

Related: Pics from #FeesMustFall at Parliament (Click here)

Johnny Issel: Everything that was noble in the Struggle

Bush Radio is joining many organisations and individuals in paying tribute to the memory of Johnny Issel (born 17 August 1946 – 23 January 2011) who passed away on Sunday the 23rd January 2011.

We will be airing a discussion with Mr Issel tonight 24 January 2011 at 8pm on 89.5 FM.

A mentor to many, Mr Issel was one of the greatest organisers in our struggle against apartheid; a teacher, a student activist, a trade union and community organiser, one of the founders of Grassroots and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

We feel the words of those closest to him can best summarise what he meant to those that knew him.

Click on a name below to hear the thoughts of some of the people who attended his funeral today (24 January 2011) in Kensington.

Leila Issel (Daughter)   –   Allan Boesak   –   Trevor Manuel  

Ryland Fisher   –   Mildred Lesiea   –   James Matthews

Ruth Lewin   –   Salie Manie   –   Tyrone Appolis 

Cecil Esau   –   Frank Smith   –   Jean Swanson Jacobs

Mike Mulligan   –   Reggie September   –   Steve Carolus