Southside FM Radio Update delivered at SATF musical festival on Sunday, July 8 2012

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 031 - 568 1309/082 376 9053 email: ptsa@global.co.za/subrygovender@gmail.com July 8 2012 UPDATE PRESENTATION AT SATF MUSIC FESTIVAL IN WOODHURST, CHATSWORTH SUNDAY, JULY 8 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanakkam and Namaskaram. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and boys and girls. I want to thank Mr Richard Govender and his team for giving an opportunity to brief you about the latest developments regarding the establishment of our south Indian radio station - Southside FM. When Richard telephoned me and asked me to give an update about the radio station, I agreed without any hesitation because I felt that it wasvitally important for us to keep the people informed of our progress. When we first initiated the project about three years, we thought that it would be an easy process - just obtaining the licence and frequency from ICASA. But, unfortunately, we were seriously mistaken. After a great deal of communications ICASA and Sentech, we were granted a five-year community class licence in September last year. We then thought it would be a formality before ICASA would grant us a frequency so that we could launch the radio station. We, therefore, organised a very successful cultural programme and fund-raising function at the MTSS in Merebank on February 27. But since our function, ICASA has been pushing us around for our request for a frequency in our main target market area of Durban, North Coast, South Coast and Pietermaritzburg. ICASA said they had no frequency in the Durban area and only granted us a frequency in the Port Shepstone area from Port Edward to Umkomaas. After several months of frustration, our Management Committee then decided that we must have a meeting with ICASA to sort out the problem. Together with Ms Poomanie Pauline Naidoo, president of the SATF, Mr Micky Chetty, former president of SATF and current president of the International Organisation for the Promotion of Tamil, Mr Navesh Chetty, PRO of SATF, and Mr Savesh Pather of Pretoria, we held a very successful meeting with ICASA in Johannesburg on June 21. We pointed out that we are a very important cultural community and that we should not be treated with contempt by the authorities. We pointed out very strongly that our main target market is situated in and around the Durban area and that they must do everything in their power to grant us a frequency in this area. After a great deal of discussions, the ICASA officials finally said they could help us if we gave them several premises of where we could broadcast from in the Durban area. They said once this was sent to them they would select one address with best coverage and grant us a frequency. Since returning from the meeting, we held discussions with several role players and our Management Committee and with Sentech in Durban. We have now submitted seven premises in the Merebank, Chatsworth, Mount Edgcombe and North Coast areas. The documents were faxed to ICASA this past Friday and we are hoping that they would now make a proper decision in favour of us. We have informed ICASA once they have granted us a frequency in the Durban area we would also utilise the Port Shepstone and Pietermaritzburg areas. Once this is done the real work would start. We have to embark on several projects: 1. We would have to build and equip our studio with the necessary sound equipments. 2. We would have to recruit and train our presenters. 3. We initially need six presenters to present our programmes from 6am to 9pm at night during weekdays and weekends. 4. We would also recruit junior reporters to present our news items and current affairs programmes. 5. We also would want to recruit and train a manager. 6. Most of the people would be recruited on a voluntary basis. 7. We envisage that once the frequency is granted we would take about three months to start broadcasting. I sincerely hope that this latest update would give you a clear picture of where Southside is and where we are heading to. Once again we want to point out that our radio station will be a progressive force - promoting not only the linguistic, musical, and cultural needs of the south-Indian origin community but also promoting the culture of our people being full South Africans in a multi-cultural society. In this regard, we will also have a programme to teach isiZulu along with Tamil and Telugu. We would also be an independent entity – not linked to any organisation or association. Our independence will be paramount. If any young person is interested in joining the Southside broadcasting team - he or she must get in touch with the speaker on Subrygovender@gmail.com or ptsa@global.co.za Once again I want to thank Richard Govender and his team for giving me this opportunity to inform you about the latest developments regarding Southside FM Radio. Nandri and regards. Subry