Stephen Mnchube, chairman of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, has delivered a passionate speech on the benefits of community radio, in the twentieth year of the sector.
Mnchube was speaking at the launch of, and fundraising event for, the Giyani Community Radio Station on Saturday, where he also said it was about the area in the region in the north east of the country had its own community station.
He said: “This community radio station must therefore lead the Giyani community, and the surrounding areas in addressing their needs for information.
“Our communities in this part of the country have specific challenges. Access to clean water and sanitation is limited in many a household and villages.
“In this instance, community radio can play an important role in providing information to the community when there is an outbreak of an epidemic such as cholera.”
Despite only being launched on Saturday, the Giyani Community Radio Facebook page already has more than 4,000 likes.
Mnchube also encourages stations to work with their commercial counterparts and join the association of community radio stations so they can lobby as a group.
