Bush Radio, Africa’s oldest community radio station project is in the process of renewing its broadcast and frequency spectrum license.
As part of this process we would like all our listeners, supporters, community organisations and clients to sign a petition to show their support for the application.
You can sign the form online.
Thank you for your support.
Related: Disrupting the media and saluting our roots
At 2pm on the 9 August, 2020, Bush Radio marks the 25th anniversary of broadcasting with a license from the broadcast authority.
Read: Bush Radio, Africa’s oldest community radio station project
9 August 1995 – South Africa’s first National Women’s Day – was chosen because we wanted to honour all the women who had been instrumental in giving rise to the community radio sector and establishing Bush Radio, in particular.
This year COVID19 has proven the importance of community media in helping the fight against the pandemic, by being a vital source of information and supporting the communities we serve through our programming.
Our events to celebrate 25 years of broadcasting were put on hold, but now we have an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve and look towards the next – dare we say it – quarter of a century!
During the pandemic, we can be together via 89.5FM and stream on http://www.bushradio.co.za
Thank you for your support, and keep safe.
Basic protective measures against the Novel #Coronavirus – click here
Official websites for accurate information regarding COVID19:
COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal
If you would like to submit your music to Bush Radio do the following:
Email the track in MP3 format (DO NOT SEND links)
Technical details for MP3:
Also include the following in your email:
This information assists us ensuring that we submit the correct details to SAMRO and ICASA.
Please note that submission of a track DOES NOT mean automatic inclusion on the Bush Radio playlist.
Basic protective measures against the Novel #Coronavirus – click here
Official websites for accurate information regarding COVID19:
COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal
The National Community Radio Forum issued a press statement after their meeting with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) yesterday.
The meeting was held to discuss the current crises with regards to the planned closure of certain community radio stations by the broadcasting authority.
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.
Related:
Community Media demands to be heard
Don’t just like what you hear.
The end of revolutionary radio in South Africa?
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
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) have recently called upon individuals and groups to make written input into the draft regulations on South African music content (ie quotas)The regulations will guide all radio stations in SA as to how much local music they must play.
Highlights of the proposed regulations are:
Written representations with regard to the draft regulations must be submitted to ICASA by the14 August 2015. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS)
Enquiries should be directed to 011 566-3259; between 10h00 and 16h00, Monday to Friday.
Persons submitting written representations are asked to indicate whether they want to make oral presentations as well.
*Bush Radio currently plays a minimum of 50% local music.
Check out Everyday People every Thursday when we bring you the Cape TOP 5 before 5pm, showcasing the tracks from Cape Town’s best artists.
If you like it and want to keep the tracks in the TOP5 before 5PM chart, all you need to do is VOTE.
Sms the word TOP5 and the name of your favorite artist to 32158
Or
Get the Bush Radio Mxit app on your cell phone by visiting: http://mxitapp.com/bushradio
Tune into 89.5 fm every Thursday 4.30pm To 5pm to hear the full tracks or visit the CAPE TOWN TOP5 Page
Let’s support and encourage our local artists and musicians
*R1 per SMS and free minutes do not apply.
*The Top5 will be compiled using totals from the Bush Radio Mxit App and sms’s to 32158.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks at Bush Radio.
We handed out Matric study packs to learners at Modderdam and Glendale High in partnership with Van Schaik Books, helped plan a careers day at St Agnes Primary in Woodstock, as well as hosted station and programme managers from various radio stations in southern Africa as part of our partnership on local radio with UNESCO.
All of this was made worth it by the announcement by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) that we have been granted a renewal on our broadcast license until October 2018!
Stationery Handovers
Bush Radio’s, Lusanda Bill hand over the stationery to Modderdam High Principal, Mr Snyers
Principal of Modderdam High, Mr Snyers said the timing of the stationery is perfect because this time of the year learners need all the support they can get. Principal Achmat Chotia of Glendale High said he was delighted and inspired by the donation made by Bush Radio and Van Schaik Bookstore to the matrics. “With all the support that the learners are getting from the community is an indication to the learners that they must know that there are people who care and wish they succeed” Chotia added.
Marketing Manager of Van Schaik Bookstore, Margaret Vyver-Rambau said they started this project after they realised that stationery is very important to a learner, especially during exams.
Excited Glendale High matrics await their stationery packs
Vyver-Rambau added that it is important to work with the media in playing a part in encouraging children to study further as they are the future leaders.
Brand Manager, Melanie Foxcroft said to be involved in projects such as these are very important as Van Schaik believes in furthering education especially for young people.
St Agnes Primary careers day 2013
Each year St Agnes Primary School in Woodstock hold a career day where teachers hope to get learners to start thinking about career choices. As part of the day they get speakers from various fields to chat to the learners to help inspire and give them advice. Learners are encouraged to dress up to represent their chosen career and the teachers at the school get to put on school uniforms.
Left to Right: Wayne Mckay, Nathan Adams + Bhavna Singh join the careers day event
Bush Radio was asked if we could arrange a couple of guest speakers for the event and we called upon some of our volunteers and contacts to come help out. The children were thoroughly entertained, and inspired by Bhavna Singh (former Breakfast Rush team member and currently an ETV news anchor), Wayne Mckay (comedian, mc and presenter of Laid Back), Nathan Adams (The Daily Voice entertainment editor) and Yazeed Kamaldien (freelance photographer and journalist)
Nathan Adams chatting with the learners
Financial Management training for Managers
Managers from the various radio stations
Bush Radio in partnership with the UNESCO hosted a Financial Management training course from the 14 – 18 October 2013. Station Managers and Programme Managers came from Namibia (Live FM, Ohangwena Community Radio, Base FM and !Ah FM), Lesotho (Mafeteng Community radio) and South Africa (Bush Radio, Jozi FM, Radio Riverside, Radio Atlantis and Valley FM). This course is part of a broader project called “Empowering Local Radio’s with ICT’s”
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.
On the 9th August 2012, National Women’s Day, we kick off a month of celebration at Bush Radio as we reach 17 years of legal community radio broadcasting in South Africa. Besides some of the fun activities planned for our birthday month we are also taking the opportunity of looking back and reflecting on the struggle to free the airwaves in South Africa and look at how we keep it free.
Bush Radio is also in the process of digitising its extensive archive of recordings and photographs and below is a sample of some the pictures – see if you can spot yourself and if you have material that you think belongs in the archive let us know.
related: Celebrating 16 years on air
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