SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO WRITE TO PRESIDENT ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLES TO LAUNCH RADIO STATION

The officials of Southside FM Radio have now made representations to President Jacob Zuma about their struggles for an FM frequency over the past five-and-half-years. On September 8 2015, Southside submitted the following letter and Memorandum to the President's office in Pretoria outling in full detail about the struggles to launch their radio station. Southside has appealed to the President for an audience to discuss the way forward. Southside chairperson, Mrs Sally Padaychie, wife of the late Minister Roy Padaychie, will lead a delegation of leaders to meet the President. LETTER OF SEPT 8 2015 --------------------------------------------- SOUTSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com Sept 8 2015 His Honour President Jacob Zuma Presidency Pretoria ----------------------- Dear Honourable President It's with great humility and respect that we write to you about our struggles to obtain a frequency despite commitments and assurances by ICASA and Sentech about our requirements. We have been struggling for a frequency over the past five-and-half-years ever since former struggle stalwarts and cultural leaders decided to launch a cultural radio station for South Africans who are of south Indian-origin. Our radio station has been supported by prominent leaders and organisations, including the late former Minister of Communications, Mr Roy Padaychie; Mrs Sally Padaychie, who is now our chairperson; Mr Micky Chetty, immediate former president of the South African Tamil Federation who is now president of the International Organisation for the Promotion of Tamil; Mr Balan Gounden, president of the Merebank Tamil School Society in Durban; Mr Karthy Moothsamy, current chairperson of the SATF; Mr Logan Naidoo, prominent business leader and former chairperson of Sentech; Mr Vivian Reddy of the Edison Group; struggle stalwarts, Mr Swaminathan Gounden and Dr Dilly Naidoo; and veteran struggle journalist, Mr Subry Govender. Despite struggling for the past five-and-half-years, we are still being denied a frequency and this is causing a great deal of frustration among our supporters and memnbers of our target audience. Everywhere we go, people are asking: "What is happening? Why have Southside not yet been granted a frequency? When are you going to launch our radio station?" We have made regular and repeated representations to almost every level of authority and now have no option but to take up the issue with your honourable goodself. We enclose a memorandum on our project and the struggles we have been engaged in, in order to obtain a frequency in terms of the values, policies and principles of our new democratic order. Our chairperson, Mrs Sally Padaychie, and a delegation of the South Indian-origin community, would like an audience with his Honour, President Jacob Zuma, to discuss the way forward. Please let us know when we could be accommodated. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary ---------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mrs Sally Padaychie (chairperson), Mr Balan Gounden (deputy vice-chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy vice-chairperson), Ms Kersah Govender (Treasurer), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Denis Naidoo (Deputy Treasurer), Mrs Thirupurisundrie Govender, Mr Sumeshen Moodley (Assistant Secretary) and Mr Subry Govender (Secretary) MEMORANDUM SENT TO PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ========================================= SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 Musgrave Road, Durban Tel: 031 - 568 1309/082 376 9053 email: subrygovender@gmail.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 10 2015 MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED FOR A FREQUENCY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION ----------------------------- The move for the establishment of a radio station for the descendants of indentured labourers was started in 2009 at a time when preparations were being made to commemmorate the arrival of our forefathers and mothers 155 years ago. The main proponents were Mr Swaminathan Gounden, a former veteran political activist; Mr Balan Gounden, a cultural leader; and Mr Subry Govender, a veteran journalist and former political activist. They spoke to a wide range of people and organisations about the establishment of such a station. The unanimous response was: "It's long overdue." Although we have provided full details in our application for a community radio licence and in numerous communications with ICASA, we wish to make the following submissions: 1). Southside FM Radio represents South Africans whose mother tongues are Tamil and Telugu. 2). We make up between 55 and 60 percent of the more than 1,4-million South Africans of Indian origin. 3). We are mainly descendants of indentured labourers who worked almost as slaves on the sugar plantations of then Natal Colony since the 1860s. 4). The leaders emanating from this community over the past 155 years have played very important roles in the social, educational, business, sporting and political struggles and development of South Africa. Some of the leaders who have emerged from this community include: Dr Monty Naicker, who worked with leaders of the calibre of Dr Albert Luthuli; Mr Billy Nair, who spent more than 20 years on Robben Island with leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu; political activists Swaminathan Gounden, R D Naidoo, Advocate M D Naidoo, Mrs Phyllis Naidoo; and Mr M N Pather, R K Naidoo and Mr Morgan Naidoo, who played leading roles in isolating apartheid sport and promoting the freedom struggles during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s; Mr Ronnie Govender and Mr Subry Govender - journalists who played important roles in promoting the freedom struggles through their work; and the late Cabinet Minister, Mr Roy Padaychie, who died in early 2012. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ------------------------------------------ After having contributed to the liberation struggles, some of the leaders - including the late Mr Padaychie, Mr Balan Gounder, Mr Swaminathan Gounden and Mr Subry Govender, who retired from the SABC in 2009 after joining in 1995, got together and discussed what we should do to, not only to promote the rich cultures, languages and traditions of this community, but also to inculcate the values and principles of being full South Africans. One of these values is the promotion of the IsiZulu and other languages among this community. At a meeting in October 2009, it was decided that we should establish a radio station in order to promote these values. Southside FM Radio was thus initiated. COMMITTEE ------------------------ A committee, under the chairpersonship of Mr Subry Govender, was elected at a meeting held at the David Landau Community Centre in Asherville, Durban, in October 2009. Since the meeting, Mr Govender, Mr Gounder, Mr Gounden, Ms Keresha Govender(treasurer) and Mrs Thirupurasundrie Govender (secretary) got down to applying for a NPO registration number, a community radio licence and a frequency. NPO ----------- This was granted early in 2011 by the Department of Social Welfare. The number is 089 - 426. COMMUNITY RADIO LICENCE ------------------------------------------------------ After a great deal of communications with ICASA for nearly two years and after the submission of seven bounded documents, we were granted a five-year community radio licence by ICASA in September 2011. The late Minister Roy Padaychie played an important role in this regard. CULTURAL EVENING ------------------------------------ In view of the tremendous interest shown by the community for the establishment of a radio station, we organised a cultural evening and fund-raising dinner at the MTSS in Merebank, Durban, on Saturday, February 25, 2012. The function was a huge and phenomenal success with more than 500 supporters, donors and sponsors supporting the scheduled launch of the radio station. Nearly R1-million was pledged on the evening for the radio station. The late former Minister of Communications, Mr Roy Padaychie, was the main guest speaker at the function. FREQUENCY ----------------------- In our communications with ICASA and Sentech, we have repeatedly and regularly pointed out in writing that our primary and main target market is situated: * in and around the city of Durban - Chatsworth, Phoenix, and Pinetown. * the North Coast - Verulam, Tongaat, Stanger, Richards Bay. * the South Coast - Port Shepstone, Umzinto, Umkomaas, Amanzimtoti. * Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, Dundee and Newcastle. * Johannesburg - Midrand and Randburg/Fourways/Bryanstan/Lenasia. * Pretoria - Laudium/Benoni * Cape Town, and * Port Elizabeth-East London. We made it clear that initially we wanted to start broadcasting to the primary target area of Durban and then extend to the other regions. Prior to the granting of the community radio licence in September 2011, we had been given a number of co-ordinates by ICASA and SENTECH. Two frequencies allocated but not confirmed were 94.4 and 93.6 MHz. But at every turn we were told that the frequencies were clashing with one another or that they were in use by other radio stations. We found that at least two frequencies used by community radio stations that had operated from Durban had not been broadcasting for more than two years. One of the community radio stations has since started to operate again through the assistance of the authorities. We have repeatedly pointed out that our main and initial target market is situated in the Durban area, north coast, south coast and the Pietermaritzburg region. But unfortunately we have been told that Durban area is congested and that there are no frequencies. Instead we were told to apply for frequencies in the Pietermaritzburg area, Newcastle-Ladysmith, and Port Shepstone. Subsequently we were told that Pietermaritzburg was not feasible and was only granted a frequency in the Port Shepstone area from Port Edward to Umkomaas. (But now we have been told that the area of Pietermaritzburg will also be granted to us.) After we received the Port Shepstone frequency we consulted with our supporters and donors. We found that most people felt that our main target market is in and around Durban, north coast, south coast and Pietermaritzburg and it would not be financially feasible to broadcast only in the Port Shepstone region. Our committee felt that we must point this out to ICASA and this was done when we held a meeting with ICASA in Johannesburg on June 19 2012. We believe that: 1. It will not be financial feasible to broadcast only in the Port Shepstone area because most of our target market is in the Durban area and in the Johannesburg-Pretoria region. 2. ICASA must find a solution for us because our supporters and donors are looking forward to the launch of our radio station as soon as possible. MEETING WITH ICASA ---------------------------------------- In view of the problems encountered in obtaining a frequency we held a meeting with two ICASA officials in Johannesburg on June 25 2012 Our delegation was made up of Mr Subry Govender(Secretary); Ms Poomanie Naidoo, chairperson of the South African Tamil Federation; Mr Micky Chetty, former chairperson of the SATF and current chairperson of the International Organisation for the Promotion of Tamil; Mr T Chetty, Public Relations Officer of the SATF and Mr Savesh Pather, an MK veteran. We gave the ICASA officials a detailed account of Southside FM Radio and repeated most of the information we had supplied in our application for a community radio licence. After listening to our presentations, the two officials asked us to provide them with details of the premises in Durban, together with the co-ordinates, from where we would broadcast from. They told the Southside delegation that once this was done they would select the premises with the maximum coverage and provide us with the frequency. As soon as we returned to Durban, we submitted details of seven premises together with the co-ordinates to ICASA. We completed the application forms with the assistance of Sentech. Towards the end of July, one of the officials telephoned Mr Subry Govender and informed him that they might have some "good news" for us. He said they had identified a frequency and he would inform us soon of the latest development. The official, at the request of Mr Govender, submitted this information to Southside. He pointed out that he still had to clear this with Sentech. A few days later the ICASA official came back to Mr Govender to inform him through another letter that the frequency, 103.4 MHz, would clash with another radio station in Eshowe and, therefore, for the time being there was no frequency for us. We wrote back to ICASA informing the communications agency that we were deeply disappointed and wanted to know what has happened to information we had supplied about the premises where we had hoped to broadcast from. We also requested a response from ICASA as to what more must we do to be granted a frequency. We also requested another meeting with ICASA to discuss the situation. ICASA has now informed us that in addition to the PS and Pietermaritzburg FM frequencies, they have two MW frequencies on offer for us. However, according to Sentech in their 2011 Annual Report "The usage of the medium wave platform is on the decline." The report went on to state: "The current market trend is for customers to migrate their services to the FM service platform and the product is likely to experience further customer churn in the forthcoming financial period. Sentech's current strategy is not to invest in upgrading this platform but rather to assist customers to migrate to FM where possible. "Sentech will continue to maintain and operate the platform efficiently for the forseeable future to ensure that services are available to those customers who require services on this platform." COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PPC ON ARTS AND CULTURE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In October 2012 we sent the following letter to the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture in an attempt to get some assistance: "SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com October 29 2012 Ms Thandile Babalwa Sunduza Chairperson Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture Parliament Cape Town Dear Madam I am writing this letter to you at the request of the Management Committee of Southside FM Radio and one of our major donors, Mr Logan Naidoo, the former chairperson of Sentech. We are a cultural radio station that was started in 2009 by a group of former political activists and cultural leaders who wanted to promote the cultures, traditions, and music for South Africans whose mother tongues are Tamil and Telugu via a radio station. The radio station was proposed also to teach IsiZulu to its target audience. One of the main initiators is former struggle journalist and political correspondent, Subry Govender. Since our establishment we have been able to register ourselves as an NPO, obtain a five-year Class Community Radio licence and also receive the support of the community in general and some of the leaders such as the late Cabinet Minister, Mr Roy Padaychie; Mrs Sally Padaychie; Mr Logan Naidoo; Mr Vivian Reddy of Edison Corp; Mr Santha Naidoo, a prominent Durban hotelier; Mr Rajen Pillay, a prominent Stock Exchange broker; Mr Singaran Nadarajan, a prominent Durban businessman; and former political activist, Dr Dilly Naidoo. Although we received our licence from ICASA in August 2011, we have been struggling to obtain a frequency in our main target market area of Durban and surrounding areas. The untimely passing of Minister Padaychie has also caused problems in us obtaining a frequency in the Durban area. Since his passing, we have taken up the issue through the persistence of Mr Logan Naidoo with several role players but have not yet been given a frequency in our main target area of Durban and surrounding areas. Instead, we have been allocated frequencies in the Pietermaritzburg and Port Shepstone areas. We informed ICASA that we will utilise these frequencies once we are granted a frequency in Durban and surrounding areas. We also informed ICASA that our target market area also includes the Johannesburg-Pretoria region; Cape Town; Port Elizabeth-East London; and areas such as Newcastle, Ladysmith, Dundee and the KZN North and South coasts. We have now reached a stage where our target market people are asking us on a daily basis when are we going to launch our radio station. We enclose a Memorandum which would give you full details of our project. We would be grateful if you can afford us an audience so that we could bring to your attention the urgency of our project. Please confirm the receipt of this letter and attached Memorandum. Thanking you and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------------------- Management Committee: Mr Balan Gounder (chairman), Ms Thiru Govender (asst secretary), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr R P Govender, Mr Richard Naidoo, Mr Deven Moodley, Mr Dennis Naidoo, Mr Sumeshen Moodley, Mr Sagie Moodley, Ms T. Sanasy, Mr Senthil Narsigan, Mr Ugen Nadasen, Mr Morgan Nadasen and Mr Bala Naidoo." FORMER CHAIRPERSON OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After our negotiations for a frequency with ICASA failed to reach any positive results, we had no alternative but to take up our struggles with the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications at that time, Mr Eric Kholwane. Mr Kholwane was very supportive and arranged two meetings in Durban in 2013 when the issue of a frequency was taken up very seriously. The second meeting meeting on Friday, April 26 2013 was attended by all the main role players and definite arrangements were made for us to be granted a frequency. For the record, the following senior officials were present: 1. Mr S E Kholwane, Chairperson Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications. 2. Dr Stephen Ncube, Chairperson of ICASA. 3. Dr Setuma Mohapi, CEO of Sentech. 4. Mr Patrick Sikhosana, KZN Manager, Sentech. 5. Mr Nkopane Maphiri, MDDA. 6. An official of the Department of Comunications, and 7. Ms Lulama Makhobo, CEO of SABC. The officials present from Southside included: 1. Mr Balan Gounder (Chairperson) 2. Mr Subry Govender (Secretary) 3. Ms Keresha Govender (Treasurer) 4. Mr Swaminathan Gounden 5. Mr Logan Naidoo 6. Mr Denis Naidoo 7. Mr Richard Naidoo (Deputy Chairperson). Mrs Sally Padaychie, wife of the late Minister Roy Padaychie who is now our Chairperson, expressed her apologies for not being able to attend. After the introductions and the main factors made by Mr Kholwane and Mr Balan Gounder about our need for a FM frequency in and around the Durban area, the following points emerged: 1. Dr Mohapi, CEO of Sentech, gave an outline of the frequency that would be made available to us with the assistance of the SABC. Dr Mohapi committed himself and gave an assurance that such a frequency would be made available within the shortest time possible, most likely within a month. 2. Ms Makhobo, CEO of SABC, also made a commitment that she would work with Dr Mohapi in providing us with the necessary frequency. 3. Dr Ncube, Chairperson of ICASA, also pledged his full support in the granting of the frequency and requested that he be invited to attend the official launch of Southside. 4. The chairperson, Mr Kholwane, observed that this frequency must be ironed out within the shortest time possible. After Mr Kholwane made the final remarks about the frequency, he called upon the officials of the MDDA and the Department of Communications to assist us to get off the ground as per their mandates. The officials in question promised to look at our applications and they gave Southside their contact details. Finally, Mr Kholwane broached the subject of sharing the airtime with the SABC's Lotus FM Radio. The manager present indicated that they were prepared to meet Southside within the next two weeks. The meeting ended very successfully on the undertaking that finally Southside would be granted a frequency and all the officials would be invited to our launch. In a letter of gratitude to Mr Kholwane, we quoted our great freedom icon, Dr Nelson Mandela, about the struggles. This is what we quoted: "The greatest glory in living, lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINISTER YUNUS CARRIM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following our fruitful negotiations with Mr Kholwane, we found that once he had left office, ICASA once again dilly dallied about our frequency. Once again we had no alternative but to take up the issue at a higher level. This time we held talks with Minister Yunus Carrim at a specially-arranged meeting in Durban on January 18 2014. At this meeting, Mr Carrim promised to ensure that we are granted our frequency and requested some details about our negotiations. We submitted the following letter to the former Minisrter Carrim, who is now Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance: "January 18 2014 Mr Yunus Carrim Minister of Communications Pretoria Dear Minister Carrim We, the officials of Southside FM Radio, want to thank you very sincerely for agreeing to meet us today (Jan 18 2014) at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga to discuss the resolution of our urgent need for a frequency that has been dragging on for five years. We understand that you are a very busy Minister and we want to say how grateful we are that you had set aside some of your precious time to meet us. We appreciate your inputs and eagerly await your letter you said you would send on January 27 2014. We had decided to take up the issue directly with you because we believe that there needs to be urgent intervention to assist us in our long and arduous struggle to launch our radio station. As requested by you, we wish to state that we were FIRST offered the FM frequency, 93.6, in January 2011 by ICASA but this was subsequently obstructed by Sentech, who claimed that this frequency would cause interference to other radio stations. Then after meeting with Mr Monde Mbanga, Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology, of ICASA and another official in Johannesburg on June 21 2012, we were asked to supply ICASA with the co-ordinates of the four premises where we would broadcast from in Durban. We supplied the co-ordinates of the premises in Mount Edgecombe, Merebank, Chatsworth and Briardene on July 6 2012 but to date we have heard nothing about the frequency being granted to broadcast from any one of these premises. Then after the meetings initiated by Mr Eric Kholwane, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Communications, we received the following letter from Mr Mbanga on May 27 2013: "On 5/27/13, Monde Mbanga wrote: Dear Subry, As highlighted in my previous email, there is good progress on this matter. The following has been achieved thus far: 1. Sentech has submitted a proposed solution 2. ICASA confirmed the solution's feasibility and viability 3. Now ,Sentech is engaging SABC on the Logistics of the testing and implementation of the proposed solution 4. I'll advise you of the development after my second meeting with Sentech where the implementation and the timelines of this solution for Southside FM will be finalised. 5. Your patience will be highly appreciated 6. Please refrain from including chairperson's in our operational discussions, there is enough progress and no constraints that require their intervention at this stage. Regards Monde Mbanga" But despite all the assurances from all sides, we were forced to take up the matter directly with you in late 2013. In our letter on September 17 2013 to you, we gave you a detailed account of our struggles and expressed the view that we cannot understand why, we as a progressive cultural radio station, are being frustrated in our efforts. We are fully committed to the ideals and values of our new nonracial and democratic South Africa and want to play a full role in this regard via our radio station. Since submitting the letter to you, we have received a very positive response from you and you directed us to negotiate with senior officials in your department. In this regard, we have been in constant touch with your Chief of Staff, Ms Siphokazi Shoba. Ms Shoba has been very helpful and on October 23 2013, she relayed to us the steps that were being taken to help us with our frequency. She passed on to us a letter that was sent to her. This is what the letter stated: "Dear Mr Govender Below please see below report from ICASA. I will check with my colleague Jabu Radebe w.r.t the turnaround time of the process mentioned in the below e-mail. Sincerely, Siphokazi ................................................................................. On 2013/10/23 5:13 PM, "Philemon Molefe" wrote: Colleagues, There was a meeting held at SABC on Monday to resolve the issue. The meeting was with the Acting COO of SABC, Sentech, DoC and ICASA. The meeting was held at the request of the PPCC Chairperson. The purpose of the meeting was for SABC to give Sentech a go ahead with the testing of the feasibility of releasing a frequency in Durban for use by Southside FM. Summary of outcome of the meeting is as follows: 1. SABC has agreed to allow Sentech to conduct the Tests as initially agreed at the meeting in Durban. 2. SABC to apply to ICASA by end of this week for a temporary trial spectrum Licence so as to allow Sentech to commence with the tests. 3. ICASA to process the SABC application upon receipt thereof and ultimately issue a Licence. 4. Sentech to commence the tests once temporary Licence has been issued to SABC. 5. SABC recommended Lynn Mansfield to be part of the tests. 6. The steps that follow thereafter will be as per the meeting held in Durban between SABC, Sentech, ICASA, DoC , Southside FM and PPCC chairperson. Siphokazi, DoC was represented by Jabu in the meeting held on Monday. For any further information, I believe he can fill any gaps or provide info that I might have left out. The process is currently at step 2 above. [SABC still to apply for temp trial licence]. However, there is progress in the sense that they have agreed to take the process forward]. Hope you find the above helpful. Kind regards Sent from my iPad ............................................................................ On 23 Oct 2013, at 12:52 PM, "Unathi Bangani" UBangani@icasa.org.za wrote: Dear Sipho, As far as I understand, negotiations are still underway to assist them. The matter is very complex but from the email below it does not seem like ICASA is the stumbling block here. I have copied my colleague, Phil Molefe who has been dealing with the issue at hand so that he can advise from our side what is the status update. Regards, Unathi" After we received this letter, we continued to maintain constant contact with Ms Shoba about the latest developments and progress, if any. We were to have met you on December 10 last year but due to the demise of our beloved Madiba, we were unable to do so. You had postponed all your arrangements until mid-January this year. In the meanwhile, we contacted the regional manager of Sentech in Durban and wanted to know whether he had conducted the field tests for the frequency. On January 17, he sent me the following letter: "Good morning Subry; Compliments of the new season to you and your family; You can recall that on the 26th of April 2013 we had a meeting at Elangeni hotel in Durban where this issue was discussed. During that meeting Sentech agreed to conduct desktop analysis on the feasibility of increasing the transmitter power of R2000 at Alverstone from 3000W to 5000W; the idea was to increase the power so that those areas that are receiving R2000 from Bluff transmitter could get an alternative signal from Alverstone if the Bluff frequency is switched off or allocated to Southside FM. Secondly it was resolved that if the desktop analysis become successful then ICASA and SABC will allow Sentech to do the field test by switching off Bluff transmitter for a period of a week or two. Sentech completed the desktop successfully as this was communicated to you and the team. I have not been personally involved in subsequent meetings so it will be unfair for me to state what happened there after. I can say that SABC, ICASA and Sentech must agree on the way forward before we at Operations do anything; we get instruction from Head office. I would like to suggest that you take this matter to those who have powers to make a final decision on the matter. Good luck and kind regards; Patrick " Mr Minister we have put in a lot of work over the past four-and-half-years in order to get our progressive radio station off the ground. We have been made to believe since the beginning by ICASA and Sentech that there were no problems in granting us a frequency. We cannot understand why - in this day and age of modern technology - that we are being frustrated. The new non-racial and democratic South Africa has made provision for almost all cultural groups to be catered for in so far as radio stations are concerned - but we - who make up an important part of South Africa's population - are being frustrated in our attempts. We want to play not only a progressive role in the new South Africa but we also want play a developmental role in promoting the ideals, values, and principles for which leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Dr Monty Naicker and Dr Yusuf Dadoo had sacrificed and died for. When we launch we would have on our programme the teaching of isiZulu to our target market so that social cohesion - which is an important part of our new South Africa - is taken seriously. We have reached a stage where we have put on hold the construction of our studio and recruitment of our staff members until we are granted our frequency. What we are experiencing is very painful and causing frustration among members of our target market. We cannot allow this state of affairs in our new non-racial and democratic South Africa. " DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICARTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------- Minister Carrim asked his officials in his department, especially Mr Freddy Maruremi and Ms Shoba, to help us with our frequency requirements. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY ---------------------------------------------------- While negotiating with Mr Carrim and his officials, we at the same time, made contact with the Office of the Presidency about our concerns. We have been keeping Ms Lakela Kaunda, Chief Director, and another official, Zandile Mavundla, informed on a regular basis about our painful efforts to obtain a frequency. We also took up the matter with Dr Zweli Mkhize, who was the former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. Even after moving into another office, we kept Dr Mkhize up to date about our struggles. Dr Mkhize continues to support the establishment of our radio station. MINISTER FAITH MUTHAMBI ----------------------------------------------------- After Minister Muthambi took office after the elections in May 2014, our chairperson, Mrs Sally Padyachie, held talks with the Minister and her Deputy Director General, Mr Norman Divhuhu, in Pretoria. The Minister gave an assurance that the matter would be sorted out soon. She told Mrs Padaychie: "Mr Norman Divhuhu would make arrangements for Southside to be given a frequency soon." Mr Divhuhu even telephoned this writer, Subry Govender, and gave the following undertaking: "For the sake of Mr Roy Padaychie I will do everything to ensure that Southside is granted a frequency." PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After our meetings with the officials from the Department of Communications, ICASA and Sentech in June 2015 and August 2015, we submitted the following letters to the Chairperson of the PPCC, requesting a meeting to try to resolve the problems surrounding our representations for an FM frequency in Durban. 1. "SOUTSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com June 10 2015 Ms Joyce Clementine Moloi-Moropa Chairperson Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications Cape Town ----------------------- Dear Honourable Chairperson It's with great humility and respect that we write to you about our struggles to obtain a frequency despite commitments and assurances by ICASA and Sentech about our requirements. We have been struggling for a frequency over the past five-and-half-years ever since former struggle stalwarts and cultural leaders decided to launch a cultural radio station for South Africans who are of south Indian-origin. Our radio station has been supported by prominent leaders and organisations, including the late former Minister of Communications, Mr Roy Padaychie; Mrs Sally Padaychie, who is now our chairperson; Mr Micky Chetty, immediate former president of the South African Tamil Federation who is now president of the International Organisation for the Promotion of Tamil; Mr Balan Gounden, president of the Merebank Tamil School Society in Durban; Mr Karthy Moothsamy, current chairperson of the SATF; Mr Logan Naidoo, prominent business leader and former chairperson of Sentech; struggle stalwarts, Mr Swaminathan Gounden and Dr Dilly Naidoo; and veteran journalist, Mr Subry Govender. Despite struggling for the past five-and-half-years, we are still being denied a frequency and this is causing a great deal of frustration among our supporters and memnbers of our target audience. Everywhere we go, people are asking: "What is happening? Why have Southside not yet been granted a frequency? When are you going to launch our radio station?" We have made regular and repeated representations to almost every level of authority and now have no option but to take up the issue once again with your honourable goodself. We enclose a memorandum on our project and the struggles we have been engaged in, in order to obtain a frequency in terms of the values, policies and principles of our new democratic order. Our chairperson, Mrs Sally Padaychie, and two other senior officials have been authorised by our Board of Governors to travel to Cape Town to make representations directly to the Portfolio Committee on Communications. Please let us know when we could make the representations directly to you and the committee in Cape Town. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary ---------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mrs Sally Padaychie (chairperson), Mr Balan Gounden (deputy vice-chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy vice-chairperson), Ms Kersah Govender (Treasurer), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Denis Naidoo (Deputy Treasurer), Mrs Thirupurisundrie Govender, Mr Sumeshen Moodley (Assistant Secretary) and Mr Subry Govender (Secretary)" 2. "SOUTSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com July 16 2015 Ms Joyce Clementine Moloi-Moropa Chairperson Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications Cape Town ----------------------- Dear Honourable Chairperson We refer to our letter of June 10 2015 and the Memorandum we submitted to you regarding the struggles over the past five-and-half-years to obtain an FM frequency. We wish to advise now that a senior Policy official of the Department of Communications, Mr Collin Mashile, and Mr Phil Molefe, Senior Manager, Engineering and Technology at ICASA, held talks with us in Durban on Tuesday, July 14 2015 to inform us about the solution for Southside to start broadcasting. They arrived from Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively for the meeting and were joined by Mr Nsizwa Gumede, the ICASA KZN Manager. Southside was represented by Mrs Sally Padaychie (chairperson and widow of the late Minister Roy Padaychie), Mr Logan Naidoo, ( executive official and former chairperson of Sentech), Mr Balan Gounder (deputy chairperson), Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer) and the writer, Subry Govender (secretary). Both Mr Mashile and Mr Molefe emphasised that they fully understood Southside's disillusionment and disenchantment over the failure not to be granted an FM frequency. They pointed out that in view of the lack of an available FM frequency in the Durban area and because the SABC has turned down a study report for the sharing of Radio 2 000 frequency in the Durban area with Southside, Southside should consider the following: i). Start broadcasting via Medium Wave; ii). Utilise the FM frequencies available in the Pietermaritzburg and District and the Port Shepstone and District areas. iii). Utilising DSTV radio distrubution to go national. Southside FM Radio records the visit of the representatives of the Department of Communicationn and ICASA and note that the ONLY proposal tabled was that which was rejected two-and- half-years ago on the basis that it was : i). too expensive for a non-profit community radio station; and ii). the ‘ Medium Wave ‘ frequency is not an easily accessible modality. We have already contacted Sentech and an official has informed us that Medium Wave was not feasible. We would like to humbly bring to the attention of the Chairperson that Southside represents nearly 60 percent of South Africans of Indian-origin who are concentrated in KZN; Johannesburg-Pretoria region; Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. We want to submit that all other communities have been allocated the FM band and its discriminatory to provide Southside with an undesirable and more expensive option to service its needs. The meeting was a major step backward and we will not allow the DOC to "close the door " on this matter in this manner . We are the only cultural community at the moment without a radio station to promote its cultures, traditions, music, and languages. We strongly believe that we are being marginalised in this regard and we look forward to the intervention of the PPCC to provide us with a viable option on equal terms as that which was made available to the other communities. We would like to request a meeting with your goodself so that we could inform you directly of our struggles to obtain a frequency and to launch our radio station. Our chairperson, Mrs Sally Padaychie, and another two officials have been mandated to travel to Cape Town to meet with your goodself. Hoping to hear from your goodself at your earliest convenience. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary ---------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mrs Sally Padaychie (chairperson), Mr Balan Gounden (deputy vice-chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy vice-chairperson), Ms Kersah Govender (Treasurer), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Denis Naidoo (deputy treasurer), Mrs Thirupurisundrie Govender, Mr Sumeshen Moodley (assistant secretary) and Mr Subry Govender (secretary)" 3. "SOUTSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com August 25 2015 Ms Joyce Clementine Moloi-Moropa Chairperson Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications Cape Town ----------------------- Dear Honourable Chairperson We refer to our letters of June 10 2015 and July 16 2015 and the Memorandum we submitted to you regarding the struggles over the past five-and-half-years to obtain an FM frequency. We wish to advise now that a senior Policy official of the Department of Communications, Mr Collin Mashile, and Mr Phil Molefe, Senior Manager, Engineering and Technology at ICASA, held talks with us in Durban on Tuesday, July 14 2015 to inform us about the solution for Southside to start broadcasting. They arrived from Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively for the meeting and were joined by Mr Nsizwa Gumede, the ICASA KZN Manager. Southside was represented by Mrs Sally Padaychie (chairperson and widow of the late Minister Roy Padaychie), Mr Logan Naidoo, ( executive official and former chairperson of Sentech), Mr Balan Gounder (deputy chairperson), Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer) and the writer, Subry Govender (secretary). Both Mr Mashile and Mr Molefe emphasised that they fully understood Southside's disillusionment and disenchantment over the failure not to be granted an FM frequency. They pointed out that in view of the lack of an available FM frequency in the Durban area and because the SABC has turned down a study report for the sharing of Radio 2 000 frequency in the Durban area with Southside, Southside should consider the following: i). Start broadcasting via Medium Wave; ii). Utilise the FM frequencies available in the Pietermaritzburg and District and the Port Shepstone and District areas. iii). Utilising DSTV radio distrubution to go national. Southside FM Radio records the visit of the representatives of the Department of Communicationn and ICASA and note that the ONLY proposal tabled was that which was rejected two-and- half-years ago on the basis that it was : i). too expensive for a non-profit community radio station; and ii). the ‘ Medium Wave ‘ frequency is not an easily accessible modality. Following the meeting with the DOC and ICASA officials, we subsequently held a meeting with Sentech at their offices in Duirban North on Wednesday, July 22 2015. Sentech officials, Mr Naren Dhunpath and Mr Joseph Claasen informed us at the meeting that Medium Wave was not only too costly but was also not feasible. We would like to humbly bring to the attention of the Chairperson that Southside represents nearly 60 percent of South Africans of Indian-origin who are concentrated in KZN; Johannesburg-Pretoria region; Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. We want to submit that all other communities have been allocated the FM band and its discriminatory to provide Southside with an undesirable and more expensive option to service its needs. The meetings with DOC, ICASA and Sentech have been major steps backward and we will not allow the DOC to "close the door " on this matter in this manner . We are the only cultural community at the moment without a radio station to promote its cultures, traditions, music, and languages. We strongly believe that we are being marginalised in this regard and we look forward to the intervention of the PPCC to provide us with a viable option on equal terms as that which was made available to the other communities. We would like to request a meeting with your goodself so that we could inform you directly of our struggles to obtain a frequency and to launch our radio station. Our chairperson, Mrs Sally Padaychie, and another two officials have been mandated to travel to Cape Town to meet with your goodself. Hoping to hear from your goodself at your earliest convenience. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary ---------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mrs Sally Padaychie (chairperson), Mr Balan Gounden (deputy vice-chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy vice-chairperson), Ms Kersah Govender (Treasurer), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Denis Naidoo (deputy treasurer), Mrs Thirupurisundrie Govender, Mr Sumeshen Moodley (assistant secretary) and Mr Subry Govender (secretary)" LETTER TO DR ZWELI MKHIZE BY MR DEVA POONUSAMI ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After our representations to the PPCC, we submitted a developmental report to all our supporters, funders and members about our frustrations at not being granted a frequency. One of our strongest supporters, Mr Deva Poonusami, who is now based in London, wrote the following letter to Dr Zweli Mkhize, Treasurer General of the ANC, on September 1 2015: "Deva Ponnoosami 1:36 PM (55 minutes ago) to Zweli, me Hi Zweli I hope alls well with you and the Party. I sorely miss my visits to SA which is due to my bypass op a year ago and subsequent surgery. Hopefully it wont be long before my Cardiac Consultant will clear me for long distance flying, particularly as London is undergoing some awful weather. I don't think Obed is enjoying our climate very much. Zweli I was very disheartened to receive the email below from Subry Govender regarding the long-running sad saga surrounding the application for a licence by the Southside Radio Committee, which hopefully was to serve the South Indian population, the only racial group in SA that doesn't have a dedicated station of its own. You may recall me discussing this issue with you and JZ`s office on a few occasions. It seems incredible that its now 5 years since the application was first made and in spite of the umpteen meetings with Govt Ministers, Deputy Minister, Senior officials of ICACA and other NGO`s, a definitive response is still awaited. I was in attendance at Phyllis Naidoo`s memorial service in the Durban City Hall where you as the Guest Speaker heaped praise and gratitude for the role she and other South Indians played and sacrifices made by them during the struggle years and that was something that the ANC has always recognised and never forgotten. This was a sentiment shared my our beloved Madiba as well.. It seems absolutely ironical that this very group which comprises more than 60% of SA`s Indian population is now being so marginalised and being denied a radio station which from afar can only be put down to abject bureaucracy. As you can gauge from the correspondence below the issue is being just passed from one office to another with no element of positivity at all !!! Zweli can I please seek your assistance yet again to lend your support to bring about the realisation of the Southside Radio which is long overdue. With regards Deva" HURDLE ---------------- As already mentioned we want to launch as soon as possible but the issue of a frequency continues to be a hurdle. We are still having problems and would like urgent intervention so that we could make speedy progress in the launch of our Southside FM Radio station. The late Minister, Roy Padaychee, told our cultural evening that "it's not right that you have been granted a community licence but a frequency has not yet been finalised". When he passed on in 2012, President Jacob Zuma, gave an assurance that all of Mr Padaychie's projects should be concluded successfully. Southside FM Radio is one of Mr Padaychie's projects but yet we are struggling to obtain a frequency. PROPOSITION --------------------------- In view of the importance of the contributions made by this community and the need for a radio station to promote the cultures, languages, music and traditions of this community, we would like to make the following propositions: 1. That Southside be granted an FM frequency in the main target areas of Durban and Johannesburg-Pretoria regions without any unnecessary delays. CONCLUSION ---------------------------- In conclusion, we would like to say that: Southside FM Radio will be a progressive voice - not only promoting the cultures, languages, and traditions of people of South Indian-origin but will also promote the full South African-ness of our target market. We are South Africans and will promote this fully. In view of this we have decided to promote the teaching of IsiZulu and other languages on our radio station when we start. We are being supported in our project not only by the community in general but also by cultural, linguistic, musical, social, and business leaders but also by prominent leaders who played significant roles in our struggles for our new, non-racial democracy. Our target market is not only in the Durban, north coast, south coast, Pietermaritzburg region but also in the Johannesburg-Pretoria region; Cape Town; Port Elizabeth-East London; Newcastle-Ladysmith and Richard Bay. In terms of the National Communications Policy(NCP) of the ruling ANC and the Government, it is the policy of the Government to promote cultural and community radio stations of the communities that make up our non-racial and multi-cultural society. We are puzzled as to why we cannot be accommodated when other religious and linguistic groups have been granted frequencies to promote their cultures, traditions, languages and music. We want to emphasise once again that we make up between 55 to 60 percent of the people of Indian origin in South Africa and cannot understand how this community, which has played a significant and important role in the political, social, educational and sporting struggles for the new democratic South Africa, should continue to be marginalised and sidelined. We are a progressive force and as such we should have no difficulty whatsoever of being, not only encouraged, but also assisted in our campaign to launch a cultural radio station for South Africans who are of south Indian-origin. Subry Govender Secretary ----------------------------