Saluting the women who build the nation

Busisiwe Mtabane, presenter of Sakhisizwe interviewing Mildred Mme Lesiae

On Tuesday the 9^th August 2011, Bush Radio 89.5FM celebrated National Women’s day at Mildred ‘Mme’ Lesiae’s house in Gugulethu. Mme is one of the leading women who organised a women’s march on the 9^th August 1956 from Cape Town to Pretoria.

The four-hour emotional event was attended by more than 25 women of different ages, and two of our shows Sakhisizwe by Busisiwe Mtabane and Backchat by Lelethu Mquqo were broadcast from Mme’s house.

The young women interviewed by Lelethu Mquqo were, from left to right, Zimasa Ndzule, Siphokazi Xameni, Nothando Zama Zantsi, Philiswa Saliwa, Siyasanga Ndlwana and Busisiwe Rhafu.

According to Bush Radio’s Managing Director Brenda Leonard, the purpose of the event was to give all veterans the opportunity to tell their stories and for young people to learn from it.

The wise and old women took us back to the struggles and challenges they faced under the apartheid regime, telling us stories of the bad treatment they received in various places of work.

Lelethu Mquqo for Backchat, interviewing Grace de Klerk

Lelethu Mquqo, presenter of Backchat, said: “The event was uplifting and very inspirational; I was overwhelmed by the wisdom of the older women. The younger women I interviewed however gave me hope that not all is lost and there are some young people who are continuing with the struggle.”

‘It was very interesting and inspiring to talk to these women and we need more of these events,” said Busisiwe Mtabane, presenter of the Sakhisizwe show.

The veterans were joined by three young women who shared their experiences in the new democratic South Africa. Zimasa Ndzule; Public Relations student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, said: “The event was very touching and it made me realise how I should appreciate and acknowledge my mother who made me the woman I am today.”

Tammy Fisher, Bush Radio production assistant, with ANC Women's League veterans; Florrie De Villiers and Dorothy Gopie.

The Bush Radio 89.5FM Women’s Day event touched the lives of all those who tuned into the show. The saying “you strike a woman, you strike a rock”, was indeed a true reflection of the spirit of togetherness amongst women.

Mme, a very wise woman, who invested a great amount of time into the fight for women liberation said: “Alone you can’t do it, we were six people and started an organisation, it spread and many women joined in because we were able to mobilise and it became a home to many people.”

Why? Because we have to #16days

The first 7 days of our outside broadcast marathon for 16 Day of Activism is complete but it wasn’t without hitches. First our only outside broadcast laptop crashed – a day before our campaign started – but thanks to CapeTown Tweeple who retweeted our call for help, Professor Johannes Cronje from CPUT donated his laptop.

Then one of our venues in Hanover Park had no functioning telephone line but the Auntie across the road stepped in and let us use her telephone line!

Unfortunately, our appeals and proposals to national, local government and corporates for support have gone unheeded.

If you would like to support this or any Bush Radio project; through advertising, sponsorship or donations; please contact Brenda Leonard on 021 448 5450 or brenda@bushradio.co.za

No time for Silence

As part of Bush Radio’s 16 days of activism campaign (25th November – 10th December 2010) we have planned a series of outside broadcasts from various organisations around Cape Town.

Tune into Sakhisizwe on 89.5 FM or online every weekday from 12h00 during the 16 Days of Activism.  (see schedule below)

The objectives of the outside broadcasts are to:

• raise awareness on the 16 days of activism campaign
• highlight the work of your NGO, CBO or place of safety
• highlight the activities planned for the 16 days of activism campaign and mobilise listeners to support these activities

Let’s break the silence and put an end to abuse.

The Outside Broadcast schedule for the 16 days of Activism:

25 Nov – Simelela Centre & Rape Crisis, Khayelitsha

26 Nov – Sizakuyenza, Khayelitsha

29 Nov – Saartjie Baartman Centre, Athlone

30 Nov – Philisa Abafazi Bethu, Lavender Hill

01 Dec – SACTWU, Salt River

02 Dec – Gender and Youth Network, Hanover Park

03 Dec – Mitchells Plain Network Opposing Abuse, Mitchells Plain

06 Dec – Ons Plek, Cape Town CBD

07 Dec – Women’s Legal Centre, Cape Town CBD

08 Dec – Women’s Circle, Delft

09 Dec – Triangle Project, Mowbray

10 Dec – Sisters Incorporated, Kenilworth