SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO GIVEN ASSURANCE THAT IT'S DURBAN FREQUENCY WILL BE IRONED OUT SOON

BY SUBRY GOVENDER

Southside FM Radio, which was given a promise by the authorities early this year that it will able to launch by December 2013, has now been given an assurance by Sentech that its frequency in the Durban area will be ironed out soon. Sentech Durban Manager, Mr Patrick Sikhosana, told a delegation of Southside FM Radio on Friday, August 16 2013 that "all we are waiting for is a letter from the SABC". "Once the SABC gives us the letter within two weeks, we will continue with our tests and this will take about a month," he told the delegation. "Thereafter we will send a report to ICASA, which will then issue the necessary documents for Southside to get off the ground." Sentech's statement follows Southside's meeting with a senior ICASA official, Mr Monde Mbanga, at the ICASA offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, early in August. Meanwhile, Southside has decided to accept an offer to broadcast from an office at the ABH in Chatsworth. The decision was taken at a meeting on Friday, August 16 2013, after it was reported at the meeting that the premises at the Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Cultural Centre will only be available later this year. The meeting also resolved that once the agreement for the premises has been entered into, arrangements will be made for the construction of the studio, the appointment and training of presenters, the recruitment of advertising representatives and the appointment of othe staff members. The Southside meeting also elected a Board of Governors that will be overall in charge of the radio station. The Board will be the final decision-making organ. The Board is made up of: 1. Mrs Sally Padaychie, a former struggle activist. 2. Ms Keresha Govender, a cultural activist. 3. Mrs Thirupuriesundrie Govender, a Tamil scholar. 4. Mr Logan Naidoo 5. Mr Balan Gounder 6. Mr Richard Naidoo, a cultural activist. 7. Mr Swaminathan Gounden, former struggle activist. 8. Mr Denis Naidoo, cultural and former activist. 9. Mr Subry Govender, initiator and struggle journalist. The Southside meeting also acknowledged the support given to the radio station by senior government leaders recently.

Local and foreign visitors continue to visit Hospital in Pretoria where Nelson Mandela is receiving treatment

NELSON MANDELA IN HOSPITAL FOR TWO MONTHS. Although the South African Government has dramatically reduced its information on the current condition of former President and freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, local and foreign people still visit the hospital in Pretoria where he is being treated. I visited the hospital on Monday, August 5 2013 to check on the latest situation at the hospital and the number of people paying their respects and praying for Mandela's speedy recovery. The following report was broadcast by Radio Deutsche Welle on Wednesday, August 7 2013.

Local and foreign visitors still visit hospital in Pretoria despite lack of information on Nelson Mandela's condition

By Subry Govender
(On assignment for Radio Deutsche Welle)

                      A message of support for Nelson Mandela at the Tribute Wall

 

South Africa's freedom icon and first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, has now been in hospital for almost two months after being admitted on the 8th of June. He's receiving treatment for a lung infection. His condition has been officially described as "critical but stable". This has been the information on his condition ever since he was first admitted to the Pretoria Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital.

I visited the hospital surroundings on Tuesday, August 6 to check out the atmosphere and see whether there's still a rush of people. I found large portraits of Mandela's pictures adorning tree tops, light and telephone poles and the hospital boundary wall. There's also a huge Tribute Wall where thousands of messages of support and well wishes are pasted.


                                     

             

 

                                Message of support for Nelson Mandela

I found that despite the South African Government substantially decreasing its regular and official information on Nelson Mandela's condition, some local and foreign visitors still continue to visit the Pretoria Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital vicinity to wish the former President well and pray for him.

They have become fewer in numbers from the first time since the 8th of June when as many as 200 people a day used to flock to a side street - opposite the hospital - to lay flowers, pen messages and pray for Mandela's recovery.

A young student at the nearby University of South Africa, Ms Portia Mthembu, was one of the locals visiting the Tribute Wall.

"I came here to offermy prayers for Madiba because he has done a lot for us," she told me.

"But I am very unhappy that he's still in hospital. He should be at home with his family, enjoying the rest of his life. Being in hospital is just as worse as the 27 years he was imprisoned for fighting for our freedom."

Another local, Mr Paul Nkuna, had come all the way from the Limpopo Province to offer his support for the freedom icon. Mr Nkuna, a logistics director at the University of Limpopo, said he would like to see Mandela fully recovering because "we need him for another five to 10 years".

"My visit is just to see the pictures which are on the wall here and hopefully to hear that Tata is well again and discharged. That's my wish," he said.

Some of the foreign visitors were from Mexico, Columbia and the United Kingdom.



                                  
Mr David Rees Jones of England visited the hospital Tribute Wall with his wife, daughter, son and niece. He was one of the sprinkling of people visiting the hospital surroundings.

He told me that Mandela was a world icon and he and his family wanted to ensure that they visited the hospital surrounding to pay their respects to him.

"Well we just wanted to come and pay our respects to Nelson Mandela," he said, "you know he's an incredible statesman and he did so much for SA and he's an inspiration for people all around the world".

"So we wanted to come and see what's happening here and pay our respects to Madiba. He's an old man but everyone still wishes him the best."

Another foreign visitor was Sister Clara Torris, a Catholic Missionary, from Mexico.

"Nelson Mandela is a hero in our country as well and we wanted to come here to pray for him," she said.

She added:

"His life is in God's hands and when he goes we will be here to say thank you Madiba we are proud of you and will try to follow your example."

Major international and local media houses - ABC, CBS, CNN, BBC, Associated Press TV - are still maintaining their presence but it seems they have become restless.

A cameraman for a local television station, Clement Mantase, has been keeping watch at the entrance to the hospital from across the street for about four weeks. He says there's not been much activity over the past two weeks.

"It's been quiet for the past two weeks or so. On an average we'll see one family member or two coming to visit the hospital and we never get information from inside. All the journalists keep asking one another for information. Nobody knows anything."

A foreign media person, Andrew Jaguna is a camerman for the Associated Press Television. He has been stationed at the hospital vicinity since June with only a few days break to return to his home base in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.

"I haven't filed a single picture for the last two weeks," he said.

"The reason being that there's not much information coming from the authorities. Family visits have become rare. We only see the wife, Graca Machel, is always here and the eldest daughter comes once in a while, compared to the first days when the whole family - from the youngest to the eldest - very frequent. Now its very quiet."

A young BBC television reporter, Sullefene Lolwane, says despite the drastic drop in the number of people visiting the Tribute Wall area, they would still maintain their presence until something happens. By this she meant when Mandela passes on or is discharged from hospital.

"We'll be here until something happens, ya we'll maintain it. Each day someone different will come and just monitor everything."



                                          

                           Students from the Tshwane University of Technology
                           showing their support for Nelson Mandela
A street photographer, Sabelo Makena, who set up business near the Tribute Wall three weeks ago, is also now finding that the traffic of people to the area has drastically slowed down. He has been very busy photographing people visiting the Tribute Wall but has found that for the past week there has only been a trickle of people.

"For the first two weeks," he said, "I have done a lot of money but since last week from Thursday till now there's no business here".

"Now is quiet. Always business is like this. There's a time where things go well and then there's a drop. But I can't worry because I know this business is like this."

 

                                        A message of support for Nelson Mandela

                                      
Security is very tight and no unofficial visitors or media people are allowed into the hospital grounds. However, I managed to speak to a patient, Ms Agneta Nolita, who visited the hospital for treatment. She told me that while she was receiving treatment she inquired about Mandela and whether it would be possible for her to visit the icon.

"I asked them about where he is and if there's a possibility about seeing him," she said.

"They say it is really a protected area and its secluded. You have lots of security and no one could really go there. We have all the policemen and all the security people checking out on that but where he is it is really not accessible."

She would have loved to see the freedom icon because of what he has achieved for SA, Africa and the world.

"He's this icon in Africa. He 's an inspiration to both the young and older people. It 's really important to see him and wish him well, quick recovery. It's been long you know. All this time it's just been quiet."

The South African Government had not released any further information from the one that President Jacob Zuma issued last Friday, August 2 when he said Mandela was still critical but showing signs of improvement. ends - Subry Govender.

Nelson Mandela once again in hospital

South Africans of all colours pray for Nelson Mandela after he was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for the second time in 2013. Report composed on the 28th of March 2013

Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday Pkge July 17 2013

Nelson Mandela 95th birthday feature. School children and non-government organisations celebrate Mandela's birthday and wish him well.

Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday celebrations

Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday celebrations on July 18 2012. Government and the masses wish Mandela well.

Click on the play button to hear this feature.

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