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.
Listen to an audio documentary on Bush Radio and community radio
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!
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.
9 August 1995 – Former Programme Co-ordinator; Shamiel X Adams, the late Ralton Praah, former station manager, Farah Moosa (behind the mic) and Adrian Louw (as published in the Cape Times)
As we celebrate the 19th National Women’s Day in South Africa, Africa’s oldest community radio celebrates 19th year of broadcasting legally in a democratic South Africa.
Saturday at 2pm marks the time Bush Radio 89.5FM switched on with a license from the broadcasting authority. The first person on air was volunteer news co-ordinator, Juanita Williams (currently the managing director of AllAfrica Global Media) who read the first news bulletin followed by former station manager, Farah Moosa and a host of guests from various organisations.
The Bush Radio team travelled to various communities across Cape Town to get people to question the political parties contesting in the 2014 elections in a series of community debates which was also broadcast on 89.5fm and online. But the job is not yet done – the team will now be based at the Western Cape IEC results centre to bring you coverage of the results as they are made available.
Bush Radio’s flagship current affairs programme: “Newsline” will broadcast live on Thursday the 8th May 2014 at 7pm with Natalie Malgas and Freedom Raphela of “Everyday People” doing a build up show from 4pm.
Stay tuned to 89.5FM or online for more special crossing to the results centre as results are made available.
The final in our series of 5 debates around the national and provincial elections for 2014 takes place in Kraaifontein on Thursday, 1st May 2014 (Worker’s Day).
Please note this debate which will once again be broadcast on 89.5fm and online will be earlier – 2pm to 4pm.
Details:
Time: 14h00 – 16h00
Date: 1 May 2014
Venue: Bloekombos Community Hall, Sam Njokozela Avenue, Kraaifontein
Remember to join us at the venue or tune in and send your sms to 32158 to have your voice heard.
Today from 6pm to 8pm Bush Radio will again host a debate between the various political parties contesting in the 2014 elections.
Members of the community in Joe Slovo Park are invited to Sinenjongo High School where they will have the opportunity to pose questions to the parties.
Bush Radio listeners, or those unable to make it to the venue can send us questions on 32158 and tune in via 89.5fm or online.
Details:
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Date: Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Venue: Sinenjongo High School, 4 Khozi Drive, Joe Slovo Park, Milnerton
The third in a series of election debates will be from Mitchells Plain from 6pm – 8pm on Tuesday the 29 April 2014. Everyone is invited to attend but remember if you can’t get there it will be broadcast on 89.5fm and online.
The first of Bush Radio’s election debates last night (23/04/2014) in Khayelitsha had a massive turnout (see below) and political parties and their supporters had heated discussions.
Tonight we bring you another broadcast, this time from the Simunye High School in Delft. The debate, which is also broadcast live on 89.5FM and online, will start at 6pm.
Bush Radio spent part of Heritage Day 2012 at the Rocklands Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain as part of the Urban Renewal Programme for Khayelitsha & Mitchells Plain. The aim of the event was to use of arts, sports and cultural activities as tools for nation building.
Candice van Reenen, Senior Communication Officer of Government Communication Information System (GCIS), Western Cape shares government’s message about heritage day and her own views as a young mother.
Chief Niklasoa the First shares his views on the current status of South Africa’s first nations and heritage
As part of Bush Radio regular staff development sessions we thought we’d learn a little bit more about how our signal gets to our listeners and meet some of the people involved in the process.
On Wednesday we visited Sentech, which Bush Radio uses to distribute its FM signal (89.5) to listeners.
Frank Creese – Manager: Cape Town Operations
Frank Creese who is the Manager of Cape Town Operations for Sentech gave us a presentation about Sentech and its services and also conducted a tour of their facilities.
Some facts about Sentech: it has 220 transmitting stations, 742 radio transmitters, 627 television transmitters and 550 staff members at its 16 centres nationally.
Ernst Heydenrych, Senior Technician explaining the finer points of transmission and compression to Sinethemba, Isherene and Lusanda
Bush Radio is currently considering upgrading the old Telkom copper wire connection which send our signal from the studio in Salt River to Sentech and Creese shared some clarity on why fibre optic is the way to go to get improved audio quality to the transmitter.
Gary Urion, Supervisor Transmission Centre Western Region (centre) with Sinethemba, Freedom and Victor
Our staff were amazed when we were taken into the Sentech’s operations centre where the main broadcasting (TV and Radio) signals are monitored 24/7, 365 days a year.
View from transmitter site in Tygerberg
We then went to the Sentech’s transmitter site in Tygerberg where many of the community and commercial radio stations transmitters are located. A highlight was also seeing the new digital television transmitter.
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