SOUTHSIDE CHAIRPERSON COMMITS TO THE LAUNCH OF ITS RADIO STATION

(Ms Sally Padaychie(chairperson of SSFM) with (from left to right): Mr Denis Naidoo, Mr Kiru Naidoo (PRO), Mr Swaminathan Gounden), and Mr Jay Moodley). The Chairperson of Southside FM Radio, Ms Sally Padaychie, has given an assurance that she and her Board of Governors will do everything possible to launch the radio station. Ms Padaychie was speaking at the annual general meeting of Southside held at 59 Musgrave Road in Durban on Sunday (March 24). She said Southside Board of Governors and officials had been struggling for nearly 10 years to obtain a frequency despite being granted a community radio licence in 2012. “We started in 2009 at a time when preparations were being made to observe the arrival of our indentured forefathers and mothers in November 1860,” she said. “A radio station would be the ideal tribute to our ancestors who sacrificed so much for the upliftment of the descendants in the social, political, educational, sporting and economical lives of the people. “We in the Board will continue with our struggles to launch our radio station as soon as our frequency is granted. In this regard we must continue to negotiate with the political leaders concerned, ICASA and other role players. “At our last meeting with ICASA on January 23 early this year, the ICASA officials made a commitment that they would investigate the possibility of a frequency either in the Chatsworth, Phoenix or North Coast area.” Ms Padaychie paid tribute to all the officials of Southside who had contributed enormously towards the struggles for a frequency and their commitment to the establishment of a radio station for the descendants of indentured labourers. She applauded the officials and Board of Governors for sacrificing their time, energy and resources without spending “one single cent” of Southside’s funds since inception in 2009.

Ms Padaychie was re-elected to her position along with Mr Subry Govender (secretary), Mr Balan Gounder (deputy chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Deven Moodley (treasurer), and Mr Denis Naidoo (deputy treasurer). The other Board of Governors re-elected are Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Sumeshen Moodley, Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Richard Govender, Mr Marie Ramaya-Pillay (Johannesburg) and Dr M Sooboo (Pretoria). Three new officials, Ms V. Naidoo (assistant secretary), Mr Kiru Naidoo (Public Relations Officer) and Ms Roxanne Gounden (Audio), were also elected. The secretary, Mr Subry Govender, who was the first chairperson of Southside at its inception in 2009, gave a detailed account of the struggles for a frequency over the past 10 years. He said ever since some progressive elders in 2009 came together and put into motion a programme to launch a radio station for the people of south Indian-origin, the officials did not sit on their laurels but had gone the extra mile over the years in an attempt to realise our dream. “The move was to launch a radio station to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the arrival of our forefathers and mothers as indentured sugar cane labourers (slaves) in the then Natal Colony that was ruled by Britain. “The initiators of this project – especially Mr Balan Gounder, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, and Mr Denis Naidoo – with the assistance of a few dedicated others - worked tirelessly to apply for our licence, obtain a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) certificate, the support of the Merebank Tamil School Society, the involvement of some business people and the support of many, many committed and progressive members of the community”. STRUGGLES He added: “Despite Southside meeting all the requirements for a frequency we have been pushed from pillow to post over the past nine years and denied the opportunity to launch our radio station. “We took up the cudgels with all role players in the ruling ANC and obtained the unstinted support and involvement of the late Minister, Roy Padaychie; and after him, Minister Yunus Carrim. It was through the efforts of Mr Padaychie that we were granted a licence. The letter from ICASA stated that we would be issued with a licence certificate once we were granted a frequency. “But sadly this has been denied to us despite our representations to role players in parliament; other members of the ruling party; Mr Yunus Carrim and other Ministers after him. In fact, after Minister Carrim was replaced in 2014, we still kept in touch with him in Parliament. “He told us that it was a tragedy that we were being denied a frequency. “Since his departure we have tried to take up our case with Minister Faith Muthambi and her successors but to no avail. We also held top level talks with Dr Zweli Mkhize in Durban and he used his authority for the immediate former CEO of ICASA, Mr Pakamile Pongwana, to take all steps to grant us a frequency. “Mr Pongwana and his officials met us here at Mr Logan Naidoo’s office sometime in 2016 and gave us an assurance that he would do everything in his power for us to obtain a frequency. “Unfortunately, Mr Pongwana left ICASA and we were back to square one.”

Mr Govender said they also held numerous meetings with Sentech leaders here locally in Durban and also with the Chairperson of Sentech. “At one of the meeting, the chairperson of Sentech gave an undertaking that he would attend our official launch. But despite his assurances, we have been repeatedly let down and one occasion, one of the officials at Sentech told me in confidence that we are being denied our frequency because the SABC was opposed to a significant percentage of people representing people of Indian-origin being granted their own radio station. “I was told this would affect one of the SABC’s own radio stations.” He said they nevertheless they continued with their negotiations with ICASA and had held a meeting with the new CEO, Mr Ngwepe, and his officials at the ICASA Durban regional office in December 2017. “The meeting on Monday (Dec 11 2017) was requested by Southside to find out what plans ICASA had to provide Southside with a frequency in and around the Durban area. “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. “At this meeting, 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. “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.” ANOTHER MEETING WITH ICASA

(Southside secretary, Mr Subry Govender, with Dr Micky Chetty, Mr Marie Ramaya-Pillay, Mr Krish Naidoo and officials of UICASA at the meeting in Centurion on January 23 2019)

(Dr M Sooboo of Pretoria also attended the meeting with ICASA at Centurion) Then in January this year, after repeated communications with the ICASA CEO and his officials in 2017 and 2018, Southside held a meeting with senior officials of the Licencing Department at their Head Office in Centurion on Wednesday, January 23. “The following officials represented ICASA: Ms Leah Mayina, General Manager of ICASA Licencing Department; Ms Fikile Hlongwane and Mr Philemon Molefe. “The following official and leaders represented Southside FM Radio: Mr Subry Govender, Secretary; Dr Mickey Chetty, President of the South African Tamil Federation; Mr Marie Ramaya Pillay, immediate past President of the SATF and Dr Murthu Sooboo, Trustee of the Pretoria Tamil League and senior leader of SATF. “Mr Krish Naidoo, former member of the SABC Board, also attended as a guest of Southside.” MATTERS DISCUSSED “Mr Subry Govender gave a brief input about the struggles by Southside FM RADIO for a frequency since 2009 and the intensified interactions and communications with ICASA in 2017 and 2018. “At this meeting the ICASA officials gave an undertaking that they would check whether they could help Southside with a frequency in the Phoenix, North Coast and Chatsworth areas.” CONCLUSION Mr Govender said at a recent meeting of Southside’ Board in February, they decided to take constructive measures to proceed with their radio project. “We decided that we should start with an internet radio in order to give training to our prospective presenters and other volunteers. “We also decided to build our studio and office. We are currently in the process of identifying premises for this purpose. We are negotiating with one of our supporters for an office site.” WAY FORWARD The annual general meeting was also informed of the programmes in place to obtain premises, build its studio and office and to start broadcasting on the internet while waiting for a frequency from ICASA. Ms Padaychie welcomed Ms Naidoo, Ms Gounden, and Mr Kiru Naidoo for joining Southside in its struggles to launch its radio station. Ms Padaychie also thanked all other well-wishers – Mr Jay Moodley, Mrs Sushie Moodley, Mr Siva Moodley and Ms Anitha Pillay for their attendance and support at the AGM. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com March 25 2019