NEW ICASA CEO TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES FOR SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO TO GET OFF THE GROUND

(Ms Sally Padaychie (second from left) with ICASA CEO, Mr Willington Ngwepe (fourth from left) and other ICASA officials. Also in the picture are Mr Deven Moodley (treasurer) and Mr Richard Naidoo (Joint DEputy Chairperson) STRUGGLE FOR FREQUENCY The struggle by Southside FM Radio to obtain a frequency to launch its south-Indian radio station took another turn on Monday, December 11 (2017) when Southside officials held yet another meeting with the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) at its regional office in central Durban. The latest meeting follows a meeting that was held at the offices of Mr Logan Naidoo in Musgrave Road, Durban, between Southside Board of Governors and ICASA’s former CEO, Pakamile Pongwana, and his senior officials in March this year. This meeting was held at the request of senior ANC leader and Treasurer General, Dr Zweli Mkhize, after he held talks with Southside about the frequency problems. The meeting on Monday (Dec 11) was requested by Southside to find out what plans ICASA has to provide Southside with a frequency in and around the Durban area. Southside has been struggling for a frequency for more than eight years. This despite the fact that Southside has complied with all the requirements and had been granted a licence in 2011.

Those who represented ICASA were: Mr Willington Ngwepe (CEO); Ms Anele Nomtshongwana, senior official; Mr Zakhele Kganakga, Executive, Human Resources; and Mr Nsiswa Gumede, Regional KZN Manager. Those who represented Southside were: Mrs Sally Padaychie, Chairperson; Mr Subry Govender, secretary; Mr Deven Moodley, treasurer; and Mr Richard Naidoo, joint deputy chairperson. MATTERS RAISED After the initial introductions, Mrs Padaychie outlined the origins and history of Southside FM Radio and pointed out that Southside had waited far too long for a frequency to get off the ground. She informed the new ICASA CEO and his officials that Southside has been frustrated in its attempts to launch despite the fact that its initiative has been supported right from the President’s office, former Communications Ministers, the former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Communications Portfolio Committee, and even leaders within the ruling ANC such as Dr Zweli Mkhize. She called on the new ICASA CEO to go the extra mile in helping Southside to get off the ground. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr Govender, Mr Naidoo and Mr Moodley. Mr Govender also made available to Mr Ngwepe a cutting of a letter that was written by one concerned supporter, Mr Dhayalan Moodley, and published in Post on December 6. The letter indicated the kind of frustration being experienced by supporters and donors of Southside FM Radio. MR NGWEPE’S RESPONSE Mr Ngwepe said he was aware of all the representations made by Southside and the struggles over the past eight years. He said he was also fully informed of the last meeting held with the former ICASA CEO, Mr Pongwana, and the representations made to DSTV. After intense discussions with Southside officials, Mr Ngwepe gave an assurance that he would look at some alternatives and he would come back to us within a matter of two weeks. One of these alternatives included the provision of a frequency in an area proposed by Southside officials. Mr Ngwepe also gave an assurance that once the digital migration programme is completed by 2019, Southside would be given priority in being granted a frequency that would then become available