DR ZWELI MKHIZE ASSURES SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO IS ALSO HIS PROJECT

DR MKHIZE HOLDS MEETING WITH SOUTHSIDE ON FEBRUARY 11 2017

On Saturday, February 11, former KwaZulu-Natal Premier, current Treasurer General and senior leader of the ruling ANC, Dr Zweli Mkhize, held talks with Board members of Southside FM Radio about the radio station’s struggles to obtain a frequency. The meeting was held at the Coastlands Hotel in Durban. Southside Board members present at the meeting were Mrs Sally Padaychie, chairperson and widow of the late Minister of Communications, Mr Roy Padaychie; Mr Richard Naidoo, deputy president and senior official of the Andhra Maha Sabha of SA; Mr Richard Govender, committee member and president of the KwaZulu-Natal Tamil Federation and senior official of the South African Tamil Federation; Mr Swaminathan Gounden, committee member and veteran struggle stalwart; Mr Maynard Govender; and Mr Subry Govender, secretary and veteran struggle journalist. During the course of the meeting, Dr Mkhize told those present that he considered Southside FM Radio as one his own projects as he had supported the initiative since he was the Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province. He had thrown his weight fully behind the initiative because it was mooted at a time in 2010 when local South Africans of Indian-origin had observed the 150th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in the former Natal Colony in 1860. He emphasised he always saw the initiative as an important move in the new non-racial and democratic South Africa because of the principles not only to promote cultural and social co-operation and interaction between the different communities, but also to be a progressive force in the new South Africa. He also said that he considered the radio station’s policy to promote the learning of IsiZulu as an important step towards social cohesion. He, therefore, was shocked and amazed that more than six years down the line, Southside has not yet been granted a frequency. He was of the view that Southside should have started broadcasting a long time ago. When told that Southside’s Board, supporters, donors and prospective listeners considered the failure to grant a frequency to be a case of “marginalisation” of a significant and large cultural community in South Africa, Dr Mkhize immediately contacted the relevant role players to inquire about Southside’s position. Dr Mkhize was given an assurance by those in charge and the senior officials concerned that the matter would be attended to as a matter of urgency. During his conversations with the relevant role players, Dr Mkhize re-iterated that Southside was one his own projects and he urged the officials to interact with Southside officials and to reach a settlement without delay. He also emphasised to the senior officials that Southside was founded on the principle to promote the social, cultural and economic development of the new, non-racial and democratic South Africa.