The media in South Africa commemorates the 41st anniversary of the infamous “Black Wednesday” which happened on the 19 October 1977, The World and Weekend World newspapers and several organisations were banned.
We have come a long way to media freedom in this country. Being Africa’s oldest community radio station project, which at one stage faced the full wrath of the apartheid government, we feel it is our duty and responsibility to promote accurate and fair reporting.
Bush Radio does not have the resources to be a “breaking news” station, but it is our duty to be accurate and give our listeners an opportunity to make up their own minds. This however can only happen if we present all sides of any argument, through good research and having access to role-players like politicians on a local, provincial and national level – this is proving harder and harder as officials simply refuse to comment or respond to questions from our newsroom and producers.
We call on all role-players who have an interest in improving the lives of the people on the Cape Flats to be accessible, especially to community media who truly speak and represent the people of Cape Town. It is only by engaging on the hard questions that we can truly claim to be improving the lives of citizens – and being a platform where people and audience can engage with political and social leaders. Thereby learning, healing and growing this wonderful city.
As a place where many young journalists start in their careers, we call upon our audience to hold us accountable and engage with us around our reporting and broadcasts.
Background on Black Wednesday:
On this day in 1977 in South Africa, then Minister of Justice Jimmy Kruger, banned The World and Weekend World newspapers by stating that these publications were “publishing inflammatory material that threatened the nation’s security” and the paper’s editor Percy Qoboza and other journalists were arrested and jailed.
19 organisations were also banned and apartheid critics were detained.
The organisations banned were BPC, SASO, Black Community Programmes, Black Parents Association, Black Women’s Federation, Border Youth Organisation, Eastern Province Youth Organisation, Medupe Writers Association, Natal Youth Organisation, National Youth Organisation, SASM, Soweto Students Representative Council, Soweto Teachers Action Committee, Transvaal Youth Organisation, Union of Black Journalists, Western Cape Youth Organisation, Zimele Trust Fund, Association for the Educational and Cultural Advancement of African People of South Africa.
Banning orders were also served on Beyers Naude and journalist Donald Woods.
A big thank you to all who contributed during our birthday month. If you were unable to donate in August please consider doing it now or setting up a monthly debit order to help us continue our work.
Your contribution makes the continued existence of Bush Radio possible, and also makes the opportunity available to others to benefit from Bush Radio’s services.
Our bank details are as follows:
Standard Bank: Bush Radio Training Account
Account number: 071194185
Branch: Mowbray
Branch code: 004909
If you would like a receipt for your donation, email the proof of payment to: donate@bushradio.co.za
For more information contact Bush Radio on 021-448 5450.
Bush Radio is non-profit community radio and has been offering broadcast and training facilities to the people of Cape Town for the past 23 years, since before our first legal broadcast on the 9th August 1995.
An example of training course conducted at Bush Radio in 1993
As we celebrate our 23rd birthday, we are running a pledge drive during our birthday month – from the 1 – 31 August 2018 – where YOU can make a donation towards our work.
Bush Radio newsroom trainees in 2005 (front Nadia Samie and Lunga Guza , back: Megan Paulse, Busi Mtabane and Bronwen Heather-Dyke
We call on former interns, staff, volunteers, board members, NGOs/CBOs, artists, musicians, designers and companies who have benefited from our broadcast and training services or who want to support our work, to contribute towards making a difference in the lives of others.
Through such donation, you will contribute to the continued existence of Bush Radio, and also make the opportunity available to others to benefit from Bush Radio’s services.
Our bank details are as follows:
Bank: Standard Bank Name of account: Bush Radio Training Account Account number: 07 119 4185 Branch name: Mowbray Branch code: 004909 Address: 37 – 39 Main Road, Mowbray, Cape Town, 7700 Swift code: SBZAZAJJ (for international donations)
If you would like a receipt for your donation, email the proof of payment to donate@bushradio.co.za
For more information please feel free to contact us on 021 448 5450
If you are a (small or large) business you may want to consider showing your support by taking out an advertising package on the station.
The tags below are just some of the names of individuals who have received training through the work of Bush Radio
A few weeks ago, Bush Radio Managing Director Brenda Leonard and Programme Integrator Adrian Louw were nominated for the esteemed Nat Nakasa Award – and it’s just been announced that they made the 2018 shortlist!
The award is named after South African journalist Nat Nakasa, and is given to individuals who show exceptional integrity and courage in their work.
Nakasa embodied fearless journalism at a time – the 1960s – when media was anything but free. During a period when black voices were rarely printed or heard in the news, Nakasa was one of the most important and influential anti-apartheid reporters.
SANEF says that those who are nominated must have “shown integrity and reported fearlessly and tenaciously striven to maintain a publication or other medium despite insurmountable obstacles”, as well as resisted censorship and displayed commitment to serving the South African people. She began working at Bush Radio in 1993 and says that the biggest accomplishment of her career is ensuring that Bush Radio is on air and legal at all times.
Nat Nakasa was often called a brave journalist, and Leonard says South Africa still needs people like this, even in the post-apartheid era, because journalists can expose corruption and educate.
“Even when there were threats to our sustainability, Bush Radio is important historically and currently influential,” Leonard said.
She said that Bush Radio has shaped the establishment and legislation of the Media Development Diversity Agency, which was created by an Act of Parliament to help disadvantaged communities who lack access to media.
Louw says, while Brenda Leonard keeps the organization running, he is responsible for programming, staffing, and mentoring.
He says his favorite part of the job is creating a safe space for young people to develop and become courageous journalists.
“The experience people have here changes lives and that’s the joy of being a part of an organization like Bush Radio,” Louw said.
He said that through his career, he has witnessed Bush Radio at the forefront of developing and defending the community sector of radio in the country. He said he considers Bush Radio one of the last “truly independent voices for the community”.
“I think we create hope in people about what’s possible,” Louw said. “We only rise when the lowest of us rise, and Bush Radio has and always will rise with the people we serve in the community. This is my small contribution to making South Africa better.”
The winner of the Nat Nakasa Award will be announced on Saturday, June 23 at Randlords in Braamfontein, Johannesburg*.
* Brenda and Adrian have asked a former Bush Radio staff member (now based in Johannesburg) to represent the station at the awards dinner.
Bush Radio has places available in its newsroom for volunteer recruits. Read the post below carefully!– Deadline: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Are you:
Curious, adventurous, always looking for a story, willing to hunt down a source, energetic?
Able to speak, write and read in English & Afrikaans/Xhosa, willing to explore new frontiers in media? From the Cape Flats? Willing to learn and work hard?
Would you like to:
Record sound, conduct interviews, compile bulletins, read bulletins, take pictures, record video, cover events, test your skills LIVE to a listening and online audience of over 375 000 people, build your career and profile?
If your answer to the above is yes, then a volunteer news trainee position in the Bush Radio newsroom is for you. (Download application form)
You will be required full-time and to work shifts (06h00 – 14h00 and 10h00-18h00 -including weekend and public holiday shifts.)
You will not receive payment! This is a volunteer internship at Africa’s leading community radio station. Transport allowance of R 1000 only – non negotiable
This is a full-time contract position (1 year contract after 6 months’ probation) – NB: Students SHOULD NOT apply.
As part of his visit we asked him to speak with the interns as part of our staff development sessions.
He shared his thoughts on a range of issues ranging from what makes a good story to fake news.
Anyone interested in journalism and the media should take a listen.
This is an audio recording of that discussion.
*Anton Harber is Adjunct Professor of Journalism. His research interests include journalism; media; and history of South African media. Harber is the Founding Editor of the Mail & Guardian newspaper (previously known as the Weekly Mail). Previously, he also worked as Sub-Editor for the Sunday Post and Sowetan newspapers and as Political Reporter for the Rand Daily Mail. Between 1997 and 2001, Harber was the CEO of Kagiso Broadcasting and between 1998 and 2001, he was the Executive Director of Kagiso Media Ltd. Harber has held a number of other positions such as Chair of the South African Conference of Editors (in 1991), Chair of the National Association of Broadcasters (in 1998) and Chair of the Freedom of Expression Institute (in 2010). – source: University of the Witwatersrand
*** This is not a call for DJs, music show presenters or newsreaders***
Bush Radio 89.5 FM is looking for volunteer recruits (Interns) for its newsroom.
You do not need a formal qualification to apply but SHOULD fulfil the criteria listed in the advertisement below (Please read carefully).
Are you:
Curious, adventurous, always looking for a story, willing to hunt down a source, energetic.
Able to speak, write and read in English & Afrikaans/Xhosa, willing to explore new frontiers in media? From the Cape Flats? Willing to learn and work hard?
Would you like to.
Record sound, conduct interviews, compile bulletins, read bulletins, take pictures, record video, cover events, test your skills LIVE to a listening and online audience of over 375 000 people, build your career and profile?
If your answer to the above is yes, then a volunteer news trainee position in the Bush Radio newsroom is for you.
You will be required full-time and to work shifts (06h00 – 14h00 and 10h00-18h00 -including weekend and public holiday shifts.)
You will not receive payment! This is a volunteer internship at Africa’s leading community radio station. Transport allowance of R 1000 only – non negotiable
This is a full-time contract position (1 year contract after 6 months’ probation) – NB: Fulltime students SHOULD NOT apply.
Cape Town-based position
Application deadline: 20 November 2016
Only email applications will be accepted.
Send your application with the subject line: Newsroom trainee 2016 to newsroom2@bushradio.co.za
Application must include:
Detailed CV
Motivation letter which answers the following two questions: (a) Why you should be considered for this internship? (b) How news affects your daily life.
Contactable references x 3
Shortlisted candidates will be put through a combination written test (for computer skills, language, general knowledge) and a voice test.
Bush Radio reserves the right not to make an appointment – Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted – No correspondence will be entered into
*** This is not a call for DJs, music show presenters or newsreaders***
*** This is not a call for DJs, music show presenters or newsreaders***
Are you interested in developing Bush Radio’s news coverage?
Do you want to grow your basic managerial and editorial skills?
Are you a leader?
Then Bush Radio 89.5FM has just the position for you – Trainee Newsroom Co-ordinator.
We are looking for a dynamic, driven, hardworking and enthusiastic individual, with a basic understanding of the running of a newsroom, You must be willing to be mentored to help develop Bush Radio’s newsroom, in terms of policy, content, presentation (bulletins) editing and networking.
In return, Bush Radio will offer the candidate access to local and international training as it becomes available, as well as mentoring by senior Bush Radio management and experts in order for the candidate to develop into a fully-fledged radio news editor.
Duties will include: Ensuring that Bush Radio adheres to its newsroom polices, developing content to meet these requirements, all content published by the newsroom (i.e. bulletins, online articles, current affairs, features, etc) are of a high and constantly improving quality. Managing interns in the newsroom. Shift work as needed.
Basic journalism or media qualification and experience would aid application.
An excellent command of English and a good general knowledge is a requirement, as well as the command of one other Bush Radio broadcast language (Afrikaans or Xhosa)
This is a full-time contract position (1 year contract after 6 months’ probation) – Students SHOULD NOT apply.
Salary R 4 500 to R 6 000 based on skill level and experience.
Cape Town-based position
Application deadline: 20 November 2016
Only email applications will be accepted.
Send your application with the subject line: Trainee News Co-ordinator 2016 to newsroom1@bushradio.co.za
Application must include:
Detailed CV
Motivation letter: including basic ideas on what you think community radio’s news priorities should be, as well as some detail on how you would transform the current news on Bush Radio 89.5FM.
Contactable references (x 3)
Shortlisted candidates will be put through a combination written test (for computer skills, language, general knowledge) and a voice test.
Bush Radio reserves the right not to make an appointment – Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted – No correspondence will be entered into
*** This is not a call for DJs, music show presenters or newsreaders***
As we celebrate our 21st birthday, we are running a pledge drive during our birthday month – from the 1 – 31 August 2016 – where YOU can make a donation towards our work.
As a non-profit community radio station, we call on former interns, staff, volunteers, board members, NGOs/CBOs, artists, musicians, designers and companies who have benefitted from our broadcast and training services to contribute towards making a difference in the lives of others.
Through such donation, you will contribute to the continued existence of Bush Radio, and also make the opportunity available to others to benefit from Bush Radio’s services.
Our bank details are as follows:
Bank: Standard Bank
Name of account: Bush Radio Training Account
Account number: 07 119 4185
Branch name: Mowbray
Branch code: 051001
Address: 37 – 39 Main Road, Mowbray, Cape Town, 7700
Swift code (for foreign donations): SBZAZAJJ
If you would like a receipt for your donation, email the proof of payment to donate@bushradio.co.za
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 021 448 5450.
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