Southside FM Radion "Information" Meeting

Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender We wish to report that our "information" meeting for prospective Presenters, advertising representatives and others interested in joining Soutthside FM Radio at the Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Cultural Centre on Sunday, July 28 2013 was a highly successful and rewarding event. In addition to a number of enthusiastic young people keen on becoming Presenters, the event was also graced by the attendance of Mrs Sally Padaychie, a Management Committee member of Southside FM Radio and wife of the late Minister Roy Padaychie; Mr Swaminathan Gounden, another MC Committee member and veteran activist; Mr Seelan Archary, chairman of the Mount Edgecomnbe Mariammen Temple; Mr Krish Govender, a well-known cultural enthusiast; and Mr Enver Govender of Chennai News. Our talented Tamil scholar and official, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender, was the Master of Ceremonies. SSFM deputy chairperson, Mr Richard Naidoo, started the proceedings with a brief introduction. The main addresses were given by Mr Subry Govender and Ms Keresha Govender, while Mr Sadha Govender of PSK Communications gave a talk about the importance of audio streaming and a website for SSFM. Mr Sadha Govender also promised to help SSFM with the audio streaming and website. Ms Vasanthie Naidoo of Government Communications gave a detailed account of how SSFM could benefit from the programmes undertaken by GCIS. Another young cultural enthusiast and marketing professional, Mr Kamalasen Padaychee, assisted with the Power Point Presentation of the addresses by Mr Subry Govender and Ms Keresha Govender. Mr Padaychie's wife, Gowrie, also assisted by being our photographer for the day. Another young member, Mr Sumeshen Moodley, delivered the vote of thanks. Mrs Pree Govender of the SABC, who was to have delivered a paper on the importance of building our music libraray, was unable to attend because of ill-health.

Ms Keresha Govender A few members of the audience also took part by inquiring about when SSFM will launch and the necessity for Presenters to be selected and trained as soon as possible. An assurance was given by SSFM that we would launch as soon as Sentech completes the testing of the frequency in Durban and that Sentech as given an assurance that this would be done within a matter of weeks. An inquiry was also made about the premises where SSFM would be situated and the people were informed that currently we have two premises that have been offered to us. They were the Mariammen Cultural Centre in Mount Edgcombe and the ABH in Chatsworth. Those interested were ask to inform SSFM about which premises would be most attractive and suitable. For a detailed account of the history and structure of SSFM, we list below the presentations by Mr Subry Govender and Ms Keresha Govender: INTRODUCTORY SPEECH AT INFORMATION MEETING AT MOUNT EDGECOMBE CULTURAL CENTRE ON JULY 28 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ By Subry Govender Before I go into details of our meeting here today, I wish to briefly dwelve into our history in order to place the establishment of Southside FM Radio in its proper perspective. Those of you who watched the movie, Paradesi, recently, would have learnt about the exploitation, oppression, gross abuse and denial of human rights of the people who were recruited to work as labourers on the Tea Estates in Tamil Nadu by the British colonialists long before India gained its independence in 1947. The abuse suffered by the tea estate workers brought to mind the suffering, exploitation and abuse that our forefathers and mothers encountered on the sugar estates here in the Natal colony. We are meeting here in Mount Edgecombe, which was one the sugar estates along the north coast and the south coast that our forbears were enslaved in when they were brought here by the British as so-called indentured labourers. So Mount Edgecombe has historical importance for our people. Despite the suffering, exploitation and hardships, our forbears persevered to ensure that they retained, maintained and promoted their cultures, languages, traditions and their religions. It was also through their struggles, sacrifices and efforts that we are free today in our new, non-racial and democratic South Africa. It was through their efforts that we are proud of our achievements in all spheres of life - education, business, social development, sport, culture - in fact in almost aspects of life. There are many organisations and movements all over the country and province that are doing everything in their power and capability to ensure that our rich cultures, music, traditions, languages, values, and principles are promoted and maintained. But the reality is that at the same time we are swamped by western culture and if we don't do something to have a medium to promote our rich cultures, languages and traditions - we would in time to come be a lost community. At the same time while a small percentage of people have done very well in the new South Africa, a large percentage have become victims of all kinds anti-social phenomena which is plaguing all communities.

Mr Sadha Govender NEED FOR A RADIO STATION -------------------------------------------- It was because of this situation that a few of us - Mr Balan Gounder of the Merebank Tamil School School Society; Mr Swaminathan Gounden, a former political activist; Mr Seelan Archary, of the Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Temple; Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender, a cultural activist; Ms Keresha Govender, a concerned cultural activist, and a few others decided in 2009 - at a time when preparations had been made to observe the 150th anniversary of the arrival of our forbears - to establish a radio station to cater for all descendants of indentured labourers whose mother tongues were Tamil and Telegu. Over the past FOUR YEARS a lot of work has been undertaken to launch of our radio station. We had been able to obtain a licence for five years through the efforts of the late former Cabinet Minister - Roy Padaychie; register ourselves as a NPO; raise some funds, interact with most cultural and political leaders and the community in general. But the main need of a frequency had become a problem and this had caused delays in our launch. After persistent and consistent negotiations with a number of role players and important people of the ruling party in Parliament, we have been able to convince the authorities that we are entitled to establish a cultural and social radio station for our community. We have now reached a stage where ICASA has promised us that this frequency will be finalised soon in the Durban area. This is in addition to the south coast and Pietermaritzburg regions that have already been granted to us.

Ms Vasanthie Naidoo (GCIS) LATEST SITUATION ------------------------------ We have now reached a stage where we are busy with building our studio and equipping our office and finalising our premises. At the same time we now want to move into a stage where we want to inform prospective presenters and other staff members of the progress and developments. MY colleague, Ms Keresha Govender, will now give you a clear understanding of the aims and aspirations of the radio station and the staff that will be involved.

Two young prospective Presenters INPUT BY MS KERESHA GOVENDER ------------------------------------------------------- Ladies and gentlemen thank you very much for attending this information meeting. Firstly, we want to highlight the aims and objectives of Southside FM Radio: 1. To unify our South Indian Community and to allow them the opportunity to re-engage with their culture 2. To provide equal opportunity to all members interested in furthering the South Indian culture through open forum and channels of communication. 3. To create an overlap of equal understanding across cultural/ religous boundries to facilitate our common thread of humanitarianism. 4. To highlight and promote the cultures, traditions and linguistic needs of the south Indian-origin community. 5. To feature up to date music of South Indian origin and collaborations thereof. 6. To provide news and current affairs related to the community and the broader South Africa, south India, India in general and the international community. 7. To ensure that the south Indian-origin community, while promoting its cultures and languages, also promotes itself as a full part of the broader South African community. 8. To be a role model for the community in so far as maintaining and promoting the social values, morals and principles of community and selfless sacrifice. 9. To introduce learning programmes to encourage cross language integration and understanding, so that the community will be able to speak and communicate in other languages eg. Isizulu. 10. In addition to launching a radio station, Southside FM will also be involved in television, ICT and other technology in promoting the cultures, music, traditions and languages of the south Indian-origin people in South Africa. 11. To provide an effective platform for our youth to engage with aspects of the South Indian-origin community that they will be able to relate to. 12. To engage in active community development and outreach programmes as initiatives of the collective South Indian-origin community.

Kamalasen Padaychee and his wife, Gowrie PROGRAMME SCHEDULE --------------------------------------- Initially Southside FM Radio will broadcast from 6am to 9pm on weekdays and from 6am to mid-night at weekends. When the need arises we will consider a 24-hour programme. The people we have identified for the smooth running of our station, include: 1. Manager/Editor 2. Programming Content Manager 3. Hr/ Training and Recruitment Co-ordinator 4. Receptionist/Secretary/Financial Controller 5. Marketing /Advertising representatives 6. Five weekday free-lance presenters. 7. Six Saturday free-lance presenters. 8. Five Sunday free-lance presenters. 9. Free-lance reporters. 10. Music compiler. All presenters will work on a voluntary basis until we reach a stage where we become self-sufficient. The advertising representatives will work on commission basis. The reporters will also work on a free-lance basis. The presenters who are chosen will undergo professional training before going on air. Presenters will be expected to have some knowledge of Tamil and Telugu and will also have to have a thorough understanding of the social, economical and political developments in their region, city, province, nationally and internationally. The same applies to news and sports reporters. Every programme will be three hours long and presenters will have to research their contents and discuss them with the station/ programme manager. The presenters will have to have a professional and engaging voice, be knowledgeable, aware, and interested in the environment in which we live. MUSIC COMPILER ---------------------------- Ms Pree Govender of the SABC will help us to build our music library alongside the person who will help us voluntarily in this department. The music will comprise modern songs, hits of the past, folk and traditional and whatever will be of interest to our community.

Two young prospective Presenters ROAD AHEAD --------------------- Southside FM Radio will be the voice of the people and every effort will be undertaken to involve the community through talk shows and telephone call-ins. Please note that we will only start once all our presenters are thoroughly professional. The presenters will be our public relations officers and they will have to make a difference on air. Finally, it must be understood that all those presenters and others who want to become involved must be committed to making a difference in the community in which we live. ends - SSFM

"Power is Ours"

'The power is ours' In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa after spending 27 years behind bars. Correspondent Subry Govender remembers reporting from Cape Town.

As a correspondent for Deutsche Welle, I have filed literally thousands of reports from South Africa since the 1970s. But the most memorable coverage is - and always will be - the release of Nelson Mandela from prison on February 11, 1990. From early morning, I was sitting in my small hotel room, monitoring local TV and radio stations to get the latest about Mandela's planned release. Then I got in touch with DW in Cologne. "Get as much sound as you can from Mandela and the people," DW's English service head Dieter Brauer told me. Together with other journalists, I jumped into a car and drove to the prison, about 15 kilometers away. Moral support from Deutsche Welle I watched from a distance as Mandela walked through the prison gate, holding hands with his wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. He lifted his right hand into the air, giving the power salute. He was smiling and greeting people, while the crowd around me started shedding tears, while some started dancing and screaming for joy. Seeing Mandela walking, I felt a lump in my throat. Mandela had been a source of inspiration for me. From 1980 to the end of 1983, the apartheid regime had banned me from working as a journalist. They had disliked my reports for Deutsche Welle and considered me to be a "threat to the security of the state." It was Dieter Brauer who visited me nine years earlier in my hometown of Durban and gave me the moral support I needed to carry on despite the ban. Some prominent figures from the United Democratic Front (UDF), the internal wing of the ANC, had waited at the prison gate to receive Mandela. They told us that we should gather at the center of Cape Town - where he would address a rally. When we arrived there, it was a scene I'll remember for the rest of my life: Tens of thousands of people, dressed in the colors the ANC's yellow, black and green. Freedom songs filled the air and the shouts from thousands: "Amandla Awethu" - "Power is ours." Sending Mandela's words around the world Pushing back my own emotions, I went around interviewing people and recording their jovial mood. When Mandela arrived and took to the stage, there was a massive roar from the crowd. A smiling and jubilant Mandela punched his fist into the air and shouted: "Amandla, Amandla - Power, Power." The tens of thousands of people returned the chant with lively vigor. I worked my way through the throngs of people to get to the stage and placed my recorder near a mike to capture Mandela's first words to the people of South Africa in more than 27 years. I recorded his entire speech and used sections for my report that evening for DW. "I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people," he said. "Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I, therefore, place the remaining years of my life in your hands." I witnessed the dawn of a new era with the release of Mandela - but my greatest joy and honor was that I had the chance to pass it on to the listeners of Deutsche Welle around the globe.

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 ------------------------------------

Southside FM Radio to be granted a frequency soon

Subry Govender I wish to report that we now finally have positive news about the frequency problems we have been encountering ever since our cultural evening at the MTSS Hall in February last year. Following our meeting with Mr Eric Kholwane, chairperperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Communications Committee and Dr Stephen Ncube, chairperson of ICASA, at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban early in February, Southside officials once again held a very successful meeting with Government officials at the same venue on the afternoon of Friday, April 26 2013. The meeting was initiated and convened by Mr Kholwane. In addition to Mr Kholwane and Dr Ncube, the following people, among others, represented state entities: 1. Dr Setuma Mohapi, CEO of Sentech. 2. Mr Patrick Sikhosana, KZN Manager, Sentech. 3. Mr Nkopane Maphiri, MDDA. 4. Mr Lumbulani R and Mr Jabulani Radebe of the Department of Comunications, and 5. Ms Lulama Makhobo, CEO of SABC. The officials present from our side included: 1. Mr Bala Gounder (Chairperson) 2. Mr Subry Govender (Secretary) 3. Ms Keresha Govender (Treasurer) 4. Mr Swaminathan Gounden 5. Mr Logan Naidoo 6. Mr Denis Naidoo 7. Mr Richard Naidoo (Deputy Chairperson). Mrs Sally Padaychie, wife of the late Minister Roy Padaychie, expressed her apologies for not being able to attend. After the introductions and the main factors made by Mr Kholwane and Mr Balan Gounder about our need for a FM frequency in and around the Durban area, the following points emerged: 1. Dr Mohapi, CEO of Sentech, gave an outline of the frequency that would be made available to us with the assistance of the SABC. Dr Mohapi committed himself and gave an assurance that such a frequency would be made available within the shortest time possible, most likely within a month. 2. Ms Makhobo, CEO of SABC, also made a commitment that she would work with Dr Mohapi in providing us with the necessary frequency. 3. Dr Ncube, Chairperson of ICASA, also pledged his full support in the granting of the frequency and said he was looking forward to the launch of Southside FM Radio. 4. The chairperson, Mr Kholwane, observed that this frequency must be ironed out within the shortest time possible. After Mr Kholwane finalised the matter about the frequency, he called upon the officials of the MDDA and the Department of Communications to assist Southside to get off the ground as per their mandates. The officials in question promised to look at our applications and they gave Southside their contact details. Finally, Mr Kholwane broached the subject of sharing the airtime with the SABC's Lotus FM Radio. The manager present indicated that they were prepared to meet Southside within the next two weeks. The meeting ended very successfully on the undertaking that finally Southside would be granted a frequency and all the officials would be invited to our launch. We wish to point out that we would not have reached this positive stage in our struggles to get Southside off the ground without the assistance of Mr Kholwane. His efforts bring to mind what Nelson Mandela had once said about never giving up in the work that we need do. He said: "The greatest glory in living, lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." Now that we have been given an assurance of the frequency, we have to undertake the following actions as speedily as possible: 1. Finalisation of studio site and offices. We have been offered premises at the Mount Edgcombe Mariammen Temple, the MTSS, Chatsworth and Effingham. Whatever site we choose will be finalised through a proper and binding agreement. 2. The building of our studio and equipping our office. 3. Recruitment and training of our presenters. 4. Recruitment of our advertising staff. 5. Recruitment of reporters. 6. Compiling a data base of our music. We wish to make an appeal to all those who submitted their CVs to be presenters and for the other positions to please get in touch with the writer without any delay. (subrygovender@gmail.com) We also wish to appeal to all those donors who had made their pledges but had not finalised their pledges to do so as soon as possible. Our treasurer's contact email is: kereshag@yahoo.com. Now that we will be starting in a few months’ time, we would wish to appeal to all sponsors, donors, supporters and well-wishers to help us in making this long overdue project a huge success by continuing to make their pledges and donations. In the final analysis, we aim to become self-sufficient by generating advertising to meet our costs. We wish to advice that since our successful cultural evening in February last year when donations were made, we did not spend a single cent from the pledges and donations. All work thus far had been carried out by a few hard-working officials because of their commitment to the establishment of a radio station for the descendants of our forefathers and mothers who were brought to South Africa as sugar cane indentured labourers(slaves). ends - Subry Govender

Southside FM Radio Latest Developmental Report April 9 2013

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089-426) No: 59 Musgrave Road, Durban, 4001 Postal address: P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 031 - 568 1309/082 376 9053 email: subrygovender@gmail.com April 9 2013 Dear Colleagues Vanakkam and Namaskaram. We wish to advise that we are currently negotiating with the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Mr Eric Kholwane, about our frequency requirements. You will recall that we held a meeting with Mr Kholwane, Dr Stephen Ncube, Chairperson of ICASA, and another ICASA official in Durban early in February. Both leaders promised to do everything possible for us in getting off the ground. After we Management Committee meeting three weeks ago we have been in contact with Mr Kholwane once again. We enclose a copy of the letter we have written to Mr Kholwane for your information. Once we get a go ahead from Mr Kholwane and ICASA chairperson, Dr Ncube, we would embark on the following: 1. Finalise our premises with a Memorandum of Agreement either with Merebank Tamil School Society(MTSS), Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Temple or Mr Logan Naidoo's office in Musgrave Road, Durban. 2. Build our studio. 3. Invite all those who have sent in their applications to be voluntary presenters, advertising sales representatives and other staff members for a training programme. We wish to advise that our supporters are waiting for us to get off the ground soon and we are only waiting for the finalisation of the FM frequency. Our letter to Mr Kholwane will give you more information. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary ------------------------------ Management Committee: Mr Balan Govender(chaiperson), Ms Sally Padaychie, Mr Logan Naidoo, Ms Keresha Govender(Treasurer), Ms Thirupuri Govender (Asst Secretary), Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Dennis Naidoo, Mr Deven Moodley, Mr Sumeshen Moodley, Mr Senthil Narsigan, Mr Sagie Moodley, Ms T Sanasy, Mr Yugen Nadasen, Mr Morgan Nadasen, Mr Bala Naidoo and Mr Richard Naidoo. SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089-426) No: 59 Musgrave Road, Durban, 4001 Postal address: P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 031 - 568 1309/082 376 9053 email: subrygovender@gmail.com April 5 2013 Mr Eric Kholwane Chairperson Parliamentary Comunnications Portfolio Committee Cape Town Dear Mr Kholwane re: Southside FM Radio - FM frequency and related matters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We sincerely hope that this email will find you in good stead and health. This email is being kindly sent primarily to inform you that we understand your work pressures and commitments. But at the same time we want to check whether there have been any developments regarding our frequency requirements and the proposals made at our meeting in Durban early in February about the sharing of air time with the SABC's Lotus FM? Our Management Committee fully appreciates all your efforts on our behalf and have taken a decision at our last meeting two weeks ago to await your inputs regarding our frequency problems. Our Management Committee wants to re-iterate that we represent an important segment of South African society and that we hold you in high esteem in trying to help us with our frequency requirements. Our Management Committee also wants to re-iterate that activists and leaders emerging from the community had played a very important role in the struggles against apartheid and white-minority rule. It's, therefore, vital that Southside FM Radio should be assisted in getting off the ground and launch as soon as possible. Our Management Committee also re-iterated that Southside FM Radio will play an important role in promoting the true values and principles of the new, non-racial and democratic South Africa. Hoping to hear from your goodself at your earliest convenience and thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely M. Subramoney (Secretary) -------------------------------

TAMIL MOVIE PARDESI - BRINGS TO US THE MEMORIES OF THE SUFFERING OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND MOTHERS ON THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS IN THE THEN NATAL COLONY

TAMIL MOVIE PARDESI BRINGS BACK THE SUFFERING, PAIN, HUMILIATION, INDIGNITY AND STRUGGLES OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND MOTHERS ON THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS OF THE THEN NATAL COLONY. By Subry Govender If you want to understand the pain, suffering, indignation, humiliation and struggles of our forefathers and mothers who were brought to work here as "slaves" on the sugar plantations of the then Natal Colony, then you must watch the new Tamil movie, Pardesi, now showing at Gateway. The movie is about the recruitment of people from a village in Tamil Nadu to work as labourers (read slaves) in the tea plantations owned by the former British colonialists in the hill country estates of Tamil Nadu. The recruiter was a local Indian stooge of the white master similar to the agents who recruited our forefathers to work as indentured labourers (read slaves) on the sugar plantations of the then Natal Colony in South Africa. The recruiter (supervisor) promised the people of the rural village proper housing, good working conditions, and decent wages. The same promises that were made to our forefathers when they were brought down here to work as ïndentured labourers. But instead, the poor people of the Salur Village after a walk through forests and bushes lasting nearly 48 days, arrived on the tea plantation to find that there were no proper housing, decent food, health or other facilities. They had to work as slaves and at the end of the first month when they were ready to return home with a bountiful of money they found that they were literally robbed of their wages by the Indian overseers(read stooges and ya baas men of the colonial masters). They were made to pay for the food rations, visits to the doctor(read witch doctor) and other essentials. The young man, around whom the story revolves, left behind his girl-friend and was all ready to return home with lots of money. But instead the wretched youngster was told that he owed the estate for all the food and other things given to him and, therefore, he must remain on the estate for another three years to pay back back the money he owed. In the middle of the night he tried to escape from the estate but was caught by the henchmen of the supervisor (stooge) and had his ankles chopped off. This was to show him and other slaves that they could not escape from the tea plantation. This was the kind of treatment also meted out to our forefathers on the sugar plantations to the north and south coasts of the then Natal Colony. Any show of opposition to the treatment they had suffered was dealt with harshly and there are many accounts of our people being flogged and whipped by the sugar cane owners and supervisors. To add insult to injury of the tea plantations workers under British rule, women were taken advantage of by the white owners. This movie has many other similarities to the suffering of our forefathers and mothers on the sugar plantations. Another feature of the movie that highlights the colonisation of our people in India and here on the sugar plantations is the forced conversion of the people into Christianity. After a plague of some sort on the tea estate, thousands of people literally fell dead in their homes, while slaving on the tea estates and while walking. The local witch doctor could not handle the situation and the tea plantation owner brought in a Indian doctor married to a white woman. This so-called doctor and his white wife, instead of attending to the health needs of the wretched people, began to mesmerise and bluff the workers that if they accept Jesu (Jesus Christ in Tamil) they will be healed of their sufferings. The so-called doctor and his wife put on a fantastic and beautiful fast moving song to get the people all worked up and in the end most of them started clapping and singing about Jesu. What do the so-called doctor and his wife do? They throw back parcels of food to the people. The tragedy of this is that the doctor and his wife go around the people with bowls to collect thites. Thereafter they return to a party hosted by their white colonial masters and indulge in alcohol and other immoral activities.

Southside FM officials hold top-level talks with a Government leader about need for FM frequency

An ICASA official, Mr Dennis Naidoo, Dr Stephen Ncube(chairperson of ICASA), Mr Eric Kholwane(Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Richard Naidoo(deputy chairperson of Southside), Mrs Sally Padaychie (wide of the late Minister Roy Padaychie), Ms Keresha Govender and Mr Balan Gounder(chairperson)




By Subry Govender


The initiators of the cultural radio station, Southside FM, are hoping that their need for an FM frequency in and around the Durban area will be resolved soon following talks with a top government leader recently.

This follows their meeting with the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Mr Eric Kholwane, in Durban recently.


The chairman of Southside FM Radio, Mr Balan Gounder, said in a
statement that in addition to Mr Kholwane, the chairperson of ICASA, Dr Stephen Ncube, and one of his officials were also present at the meeting held in the boardroom of a leading beachfront hotel in Durban.

Ms Keresha Govender making a point during the meeting with Mr Kholwane and Dr Ncube. Looking on are Mr Balan Gounder, Mrs Sally Padaychie and Mr Logan Naidoo


The Southside delegation included Mr Logan Naidoo, a former
chairperson of Sentech, Mrs Sally Padaychie, widow of the late
Minister Roy Padaychie, Ms Keresha Govender, Mr Richard Naidoo, Mr Denis Naidoo and former struggle journalist, Mr Subry Govender.


He said the Southside FM Radio delegation had given a detailed history and background of the reasons for the need for the launch of the radio station.

Dr Ncube and Mr Kholwane listening attentively to the inputs by Southside officials.


"We pointed out that while we appreciated the granting of frequencies in the Pietermaritzburg and Port Shepstone regions, our main target market was in and around the Durban region," said Mr Gounder.
"We also pointed out that our ultimate goal was to reach our
prospective listeners in the Johannesburg-Pretoria region, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth-East London, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, and the North and South coast regions.
"We also pointed out that we are descendants of indentured labourers and we make up between 55 to 60 percent of the people of Indian origin in South Africa. We pointed out that we cannot understand why this important section of the South African community cannot be assisted in promoting its cultures, languages, music and traditions through a radio station."

Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Richard Naidoo and Mrs Sally Padaychie


Mr Gounder said they had made a number of proposals to Mr Kholwane and Dr Ncube about how Southside could be assisted to start broadcasting.


"The two leaders gave us a very patient hearing and promised to help us to start broadcasting," he added.


He said ICASA had made an offer of a medium wave frequency and this was being discussed.
Meanwhile, he said they were also taking up their case with other top-ranking leaders.
One of their supporters, Mr Deva Poonoosamy, who is based in London, has also taken up the issue of Southside's FM frequency struggles.