Dance, dance my hero – RIP Sandile Dikeni

Bush Radio volunteers, staff and board would like to express our condolences to the family of Sandile Dikeni who passed away today.

Besides his many roles as journalist, editor, poet and activist, Sandile was also and employee of the Cassette Education Trust (CASET) which was one of the founding organisations of Bush Radio.

When Bush Radio was formally established, Sandile became our first official employee.

We salute you Sandile, thank you for the inspiration and the words that help nourished the roots of Bush Radio.

Read more about Sandile

GUAVA JUICE

           shake shake my comrade

           shake that invention of the working class

           shake that unifying medicine before it’s too late

           shake before the time come to pass

           shake that guava juice

           throw throw qabane

           throw that liquid of capitalist invention

           throw the blood of Ntsikane

           throw before they see your intention

           throw that guava juice

           dance dance my hero

           dance around the fire of resistance

           dance at the success of your throw

           dance because the dogs are still at a distance

           dance for that guava juice

           make make my young lion

           make another guava juice

           make another one as strong as iron

           make many more until they beg for a truce

           make those many guava juices

           beg, beg you bastard

           beg that your filthy skin be spared

           beg that your blood does not flood

           beg because we have many guava juices stored

           beg those little dangerous guava juices

RIP Matthew Buck

Matthew Buck, Karas – Namibia 2008 pic by A.Louw

It is with great shock that we at Bush Radio learnt this evening of the passing of Matthew Buck. Matthew was a volunteer, trainer and eventually Bush Radio’s main technical support and installer for our studios.

Below is an extract from a social media post by Adrian Louw our Programme Integrator:

“It’s Friday evening around 8pm on 28 July 1995, Matt and myself were the last two people in the building. The final touches to Africa’s oldest community radio station project’s first legal on-air studio were being put in place.

Then the worst possible thing happened – a buzz, then a click. The Soundcraft Series5 mixer’s power supply had blown. With just over a week to go for the official broadcast and now legal switch-on, it was a disaster.
Matt called the supplier from his Motorola (he was the first person I knew who owned a cellphone) and after a few hours of intense cursing and fancy soldering, he had the power supply fixed.

Fast forward to 2008, and I was on one of my training missions in a town called Karas in Namibia, and Matt and his team were building the studios. Again, final testing for the handover to the crew there and then something on the telephone hybrid blew.

Ever since, Matt and I agreed that I would not be there when they did any final handovers. And so, when Bush Radio moved on to a digital studio in 2012, I took a day’s leave at the end of the install and handover… Matt and his team were responsible for the installation of most of the studios from the initial licensing of Community Radio in South Africa.

And, with so many who continue to exploit the sector, he was one of the few people we could rely on at Bush Radio.

Matthew (as I always insisted on calling him), I will miss you.

His final message to me was “Tell Adrian not to worry.”

To Levi, his family and friends: there would be no community radio sector in South Africa if it wasn’t for people like Matthew.

Matthew chose to walk with the people of South Africa and this continent.

We need more like him. “

RIP Nosi (6 August 1991 – 9 September 2018)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We at Bush Radio are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Nosiphiwo Nabatala yesterday (9 September 2018).

Nosi was a member of Bush Radio’s Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) from the age of 14 years old.

A dynamic and vibrant young women with a passion for working with young people, she continued to be involved in the project fulfilling the role of facilitator and organiser within Bush Radio for both CREW and the Media Kidocracy Konfrence. She was last working as a branch co-ordinator at Ikamva Youth SA.

We would like to extend our condolences to Nosiphiwo’s family, friends, colleagues and members of CREW.

Shine on Bronwyn – RIP

We were very sorry to hear that Bronwyn van Graan passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 31. Bush Radio would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Bronwyn.

Bronwyn was part of Bush Radio for many years and participated in various projects at the station; from Alkemy (Alternative Learning Curriculum Mentoring Youth), radio drama projects, HIV HOP and the Bush Radio / Canada World Youth Exchange.

She also served as a host and producer for Sakhisizwe and was featured several times at the station for both her award-winning acting and social activism. Rest well Bronwyn.

Good-bye Adnan (Adrian) Alberts

We were saddened to learn this morning (6/10/2016) of the passing of former Bush Radio volunteer and staff member Adnan (Adrian) Alberts.

Adrian was a volunteer on several programmes on the station, including the ground-breaking “In the Pink” and “The Morning Cruise”.

His beautiful, velvet and sweet voice was only eclipse by his beautiful and caring manner.

Come celebrate Victor J’s life

A memorial for the late Victor Jantjies is scheduled to take place at the Bush Radio studios on Saturday, 2 July 2016 from 12pm to 2pm.

All those interested in coming to share their memories and stories are invited.

The memorial will take the form of a live radio programme with Calvin Peters as the MC, and members of Victor’s family will be in attendance as we formally launch the Victor Jantjies Education Fund.

*** If you would like to join us please confirm by Wednesday, 29 June 2016 by calling Zimasa on 021 448 5450 or emailing mother@bushradio.co.za ***

We would also welcome any donations (coffee, tea, platters or financial) to assist us with this event.

Help to give Victor J a fitting send-off

Bush Radio volunteers and staff would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and offers of assistance as we mourn the loss of Victor Jantjies.

The station has put together a small committee to oversee how we could assist the family in the best possible way.

All individuals, friends and groups who wish to make a financial donation to help with the funeral arrangements for Victor, can use the bank details below to make their contribution.

Bank: Standard Bank
Name of Account: MDDA BUSH
Account Number: 07 135 25 38
Branch code: 051001

*Please use VICTORJ as a reference.

Donations of non-perishable items (which do not have to be prepared) can be dropped off at Bush Radio (330 Victoria Road, Salt River, 7925) during office hours.

The funeral is scheduled for Saturday the 14th May 2016 and will be held on the West Coast. A memorial is being planned by Bush Radio for later in May.

Final details for the funeral will be released on this blog and via Bush Radio Facebook page.

Goodbye Victor J #RIP

The trainees, volunteers and staff of Bush Radio are saddened to announce the passing of our colleague and friend, Victor Jantjies.

We were informed early this morning by his family that Victor passed away in his sleep

We are unable to find the words right now to express the loss we feel of this wonderful person who brought light to station.

Victor joined Bush Radio in 1996 as a trainee from a media project and worked in various areas in the station. He is best remembered by listeners as the voice of the Breakfast Rush and Morning Cruise but he also served in various areas “behind the scenes”

Most recently Victor was standing in on the Morning Cruise and responsible for technical and music at the station.

We will keep listeners and friends updated to developments via this blog and our Bush Radio facebook groups.

Please feel free to share you memories of Victor here.

Tribute to brave Ntombi Yoko

It was with sadness and shock that I accepted the news of the demise of one of the most fearless women to emerge in the aftermath of the Aids epidemic in Gugulethu and South Africa. (read more)

Another Cape Town legend passes – RIP Zayn Adam

It was with great shock and sadness that Bush Radio yesterday learned of the passing of Cape Town legendary musician Zayn Adam – all of us would like to send our condolences to his family, friends and fellow musicians.

Below is a copy of the story filed by the Bushradionews yesterday.

Tributes pour in for legendary musician Zayn Adam

Cape Town music legend Zayn Adams died on Sunday at the age of 67-years-old.

He was born in 1947 in Salt River and when he was 15-years-old he joined the Golden City Dixes carnival show, however he was best known for leading the band called Pacific Express.

One of Adams song that he will be remembered for is Give a little love.

Bush Radio’s volunteer Doctor Victor Davids, said Adam was a soft spoke human being with a big heart and his passing leaves a massive vacuum.

Davids said “I don’t know how we going to replace that as recently he was on stage at the Baxter theatre on the 14 February valentine’s day performing and doing what he loves the most and what he does best is to give of himself to other people”.

“Rest in peace Zayn Adams your music will live in us forever” Davids added.