Southside FM Radio to be granted frequency soon

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089-426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 031 - 568 1309/082 376 9053 email: subrygovender@gmail.com June 6 2013 LATEST DEVELOPMENTAL REPORT -------------------------------------------------------------- FREQUENCY ------------------------- It's with great relief and satisfaction that we wish to report that our long and arduous efforts over the past four years to launch a radio station to promote the cultures, traditions and languages of the descendants of indentured labourers whose mother tongues are Tamil and Telugu is on the verge of becoming a reality soon. We wish to report to our sponsors, donors and supporters that ICASA has finally given a firm undertaking that our frequency in the Durban area would be finalised as soon as possible. The following letter by ICASA's manager for technical services, Mr Monde Mbanga, outlines the latest situation: "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" Once the Durban area frequency is finalised, we will utilise the frequencies in the south coast and Pietermaritzburg regions that have already been offered to us. PREMISES -------------------- While we await the finalisation of the frequency in the Durban, we are currently looking at premises that have been offered to us at the Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Cultural Centre and at a building (opposite the R K Khan Hospital) in Chatsworth that has been offered to us by a prominent business well-wisher. He is one of our sponsors but has requested anonymity. A decision on the premises will be taken on this matter as soon as possible. STUDIO AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT ----------------------------------------------------------- At the same time we are carrying out investigations to build our studio and office and to purchase the necessary equipment. In this regard, we attach a document sent to us br Mr Dhunraj Ajodapersadh, General Manager of Facilities at the SABC in Durban, regarding the cost of building our live studio. We want to appeal to our major business personalities and others to sponsor the construction of this live studio. Whoever sponsors this live studio will have his or her name and company permanently recoginised in our live studio. We also list below the following equipment that Mr Ajodapersadh has suggested that is vitally necessary for our live studio: Radio Studio: preferred list · Digital mixer – 6-8 channel · 4 microphones · 4 Headphones · Headphone splitters · 2 Studio monitors · 4 Microphone booms · 1 internet/email computer – social network sites etc · ISDN unit · 2 CD players – multi functional · Flash disk recorder – possibly one portable unit · Dual Telephone hybrid · Radio receiver – for program check · I Plasma Television – audio connected to channel input · Furniture to house equipment · 4 chairs On air and production studios Quantity Equipment Average Prices 2 Digital mixer (12 channels RM 100) R120 000 6/8 Microphone 16 000 6/8 Headphones 4 000 6/8 Microphone stands 8 000 4 Studio monitors 8 000 2 Computer for Digital recording/editing software 6 000 1 Radio receiver 2 000 2 Computer for email/internet 6 000 3 Cd player – multi functional 6 000 2 Dual telephone hybrid 2 000 2 Flashdisk recorders 3 000 2 Distribution amplifier 2 000 2 Headphone splitter 2 000 2 Mini UPS 2 Furniture for equipment 2 000 2 ISDN unit 80 000 1 Cables; connectors; installation 1 Electrical; doors; sound absorption cladding 1 Big hard drive 2 Office computers (R5 000 each) 10 000 Other office equipment 20 000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total R293 000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that Mr Ajodapersadh of the SABC has advised that these are all average prices. Once again we wish to appeal to our major business personalities and others to sponsor the acquisition of these studio and office equipment. Whoever comes forward to sponsor these will also have their names permanently recoginised in our office. MEETING WITH PROSPECTIVE PRESENTERS AND OTHERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In anticipation of our frequency being finalised soon, we are preparing to hold a meeting with prospective presenters and other interested people, such as advertising representatives, to inform everyone of the progress and the road ahead. This will merely be an informative meeting and NOT a interview process. We will inform all concerned as soon as possiblen of the meeting date, time and venue. OFFICIAL DINNER -------------------------------- Once we have finalised all our plans, we will host an official dinner for the the launch of our much-needed radio station. All our supporters, donors and sponsors will be invited to the official dinner. In addition we will also hold an official dinner in the Johannesburg area. Those living in the Johannesburg area who are keen on the radio station should contact our Board of Governors listed below. CONCLUSION ----------------------- All major business personalities and others who are prepared to sponsor the building of our studio, equipment and office should kindly get in touch with our officials: Mr Balan Gounder, chairperson, (balangounder2@gmail.com - 083 532 5126 or 031 - 30116291), Ms Sally Padaychie (sallymudly@icon.co.za - 031 706 3357), Mr Swaminathan Gounden (devtha@telkomsa.net - 031 - 208292), Mr Richard Naidoo (van@iafrica.com - 031 564 8679), Ms Keresha Govender, treasurer), (kereshag@yahoo.com - 079 493 0603), Mr Denis Naidoo (denisnaidoo@gmail.com - 076 833 0043), Ms Thiru Govender (tpsgovender@yahoo.com), Richard Govender (rpgovender@gmail.com), and Mr Subry Govender (subrygovender@gmail.com - 082 376 9053/031 - 568 1309). We would be grateful to hear from our prospective sponsors at your earliest convenienves. SUBRY GOVENDER Secretary ------------------------------------