SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO - LATEST DEVELOPMENTAL REPORT

By Subry Govender

Now that the country's 5th democratic elections are over and the ruling ANC has been returned to power, we have stepped up our negotiations with the Ministry of Communications, ICASA and Sentech about the efforts by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, for a frequency to be granted to Southside FM Radio. The Minister gave an assurance in a letter dated January 30 that certain processes had been put in place for a frequency to be granted to us. He said these processes would be completed by ICASA on July 31 2014. Since the receipt of this letter we have been in regular contact with the Minister's office, ICASA, the Department of Communications and Sentech.

In April we held two meetings with Sentech in Durban about the frequency and have been assured that the necessary tests had been completed and that we would be informed of the outcome in due course. Meanwhile, while we were in negotiations with Sentech, we had been informed that another frequency 96,8 had not been used for sometime and that the owners of this frequency are now untraceable. Since this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the greater Durban region, we wrote to the Department of Communications, ICASA and the Minister, requesting that this frequency be granted to us. We have been informed both by DOC and ICASA that the frequency in question was not currently not in use but it had been assigned to some one else. We wrote back saying that the matter should be investigated and if the assignees are not traceable, then ICASA should grant us the 96,8 frequency. We wrote the following letters to the Minister, DOC and ICASA on April 30 2014: (On 2014/04/30 9:51 AM, "Subry Govender" wrote: April 30 2014 Dear Comrade Minister Please find below another letter we have written to ICASA about the meeting we held with Sentech in Durban yesterday and about the 96.8 frequency that is lying idle. We really appreciate your assistance in trying to get Southside a frequency and would be grateful if something could be done about the 96.8 frequency being given to us. According to the Sentech officials, 96.8 frequency will cover most of our target market areas in and around the greater Durban region. All the best for the elections. Thanks and kind regards. Subry 082 376 9053 SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com April 30 2014 Mr Monde Mbanga Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology ICASA Johanesburg Dear Mr Mbanga We refer to our letter of April 23 2014 regarding the frequency 96.8 which has not been used for the past six months. We held a meeting with Sentech yesterday, April 29 2014, about the tests they are carrying out in terms of the letter written by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, regarding a frequency for us. The Sentech officials informed us that they have completed their tests and will finalise their report in the second week of May. During the course of our discussions, it was confirmed that that frequency 96.8 has not been used for sometime and that this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the Durban area. We would be grateful if ICASA could investigate the possibility of granting us this frequency now that it is available. We have been negotiating for a frequency for more than five years and our target market members are becoming disappointed and disillusioned that as South Africans we are not being fairly. Please let us have your acknowledgement and response soonest. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender cc: 1. Mr Dick Sono, Chief Director: Radio Frequency Spectrum 2. Dr S S Mncube, Chairperson ICASA 3. Mr Tinyiko Ngobeni, DOC 4. Ms Siphokazi Shoba, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Communciations. 5. Craig Meyer, DOC 6. Xolisa Mnyute, DOC 7. Nomfundo Godlo, DOC 8. Claude Nadasen, Private Secretary to Minister 9. Patrick Sikhosana, Sentech Regional Manager KZN) Then, on May 9, two days after the elections and after the ANC was returned to power, we communicated once again with ICASA, DOC and the Minister's office about our frequency requirements. Here is the letter of May 9 2014: (SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com May 9 2014 Mr B Sethole Acting Manager Broadcasting Spectrum ICASA Johanesburg Dear Mr Sethole Now that the party we voted for, the African National Congress (ANC), has been returned to power, we hope that our five long years of struggles for a frequency for our radio station will be sorted out. We refer to our letters of April 23 and April 30 2014 regarding the frequency 96.8 which has not been used for the past six months. We held a meeting with Sentech on April 29 2014, about the tests they are carrying out in terms of the letter written by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, regarding a frequency for us. The Sentech officials informed us that they have completed their tests and will finalise their report in the second week of May. During the course of our discussions, it was confirmed that that frequency 96.8 has not been used for sometime and that this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the Durban area. We would be grateful if ICASA could investigate the possibility of granting us this frequency now that it is available. We have been negotiating for a frequency for more than five years and our target market members are becoming disappointed and disillusioned that as South Africans we are not being treated fairly. Now that we as former struggle activists have once again cast our ballots for our liberation movement, we hope that we will be granted our frequency without delay. Please let us have your acknowledgement and response soonest. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender cc: 1. Mr Dick Sono, Chief Director: Radio Frequency Spectrum 2. Dr S S Mncube, Chairperson ICASA 3. Mr Tinyiko Ngobeni, DOC 4. Ms Siphokazi Shoba, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Communciations. 5. Craig Meyer, DOC 6. Xolisa Mnyute, DOC 7. Nomfundo Godlo, DOC 8. Claude Nadasen, Private Secretary to Minister 9. Patrick Sikhosana, Sentech Regional Manager KZN) After sending this letter we received the following responses from ICASA and the Minister's department: (ICASA LETTER: From: B. Sethole Acting Manager Broadcasting Spectrum ICASA Good Day Subry The trial licence given to SABC expires on 31 June 2014, only then can we seek feedback with regard to the test results. These temporary authorization was granted to SABC specifically for making way to Southside. I humbly request that we await the completion of the trial. The frequency is currently unused but it is assigned. Thanks and best regards busang DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNCIATIONS' LETTER: Dick Sono < Dicks@doc.gov.za> Fri, May 9, 2014 at 2:41 PM To: Subry Govender Cc: Tinyiko Ngobeni , Alfred Mmoto , Busang Sethole , Siphokazi Shoba Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original Dear Mr. Govender Your email to the Minister regarding letter written to ICASA and about the 96.8 frequency refers. The DOC has been informed that Mr. Monde Mbanga, Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology is no longer an employ of ICASA effective March 2014. Therefore, any correspondence to ICASA should be directed to Mr Busang Sethole copied in the correspondence. The 96.8 frequency in question, according to ICASA is currently not in use however it has been assigned to another Broadcaster. As a result, ICASA cannot assign it to Southside while assigned to another broadcaster. As per the trial, SENCTECH has completed the field measurements and they have been analysing the results thereof. A detailed report of their recommendations will be forwarded to the DOC by latest Monday 12/05. Upon receipt of the report I will advise you on the outcome. It is recommended at this point that we wait for the outcomes of the SENTECH report and we will advise accordingly. Hope you find this in order Regards Dick Sono )

CONCLUSION: -------------------------- We are continuing a relentless struggle to obtain our frequency and sincerely hope that the 96.8 frequency would be granted to us. We have made it clear to the government officials concerned that we cannot be treated with disdain and that everything must be done for us to launch our radio station as soon as possible. We have informed the Government officials that members of our target market are becoming restless because our efforts to launch a radio station is taking too long. We have been struggle for more than five years to obtain a frequency despite repeated assurances that we will be assisted. We sincerely hope that now that the ANC has been returned to power, ICASA, Sentech and the Department of Communications would waste no time in granting us our much delayed frequency. We as South Africans have played an important role in the struggles for freedom and a non-racial and democratic society. We cannot now allow a situation where we are being frustrated in launching a radio station to promote our cultures, languages, traditions and music. Subry Govender Secretary/Initiator ----------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender