The IBA is considering hundreds of applications for temporary community radio licences. Bruce Cohen looks at the colourful entries
RADIO that will entertain the historically disadvantaged. Radio that will contribute to reconstruction, reconciliation, self-esteem, pride, peace and self-sustainability. Radio that will be non- racial, non-sexist and non-derogatory. Radio that will establish and promote a living witness to the reality, presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Radio that will belt out hits from the `50s … Welcome to community radio in the new South Africa.
These are some of the descriptions of services proposed by the 200-odd applicants for temporary community radio licences. The Independent Broadcast Authority (IBA) began hearings on these applications on Wednesday.
Two communities which have jumped on to the broadcast bandwagon are the Muslim and Christian faiths. While there are at least a dozen applications from Christian groups, Islamic organisations have applied for no less than 17 community radio licences throughout the
The Muslim stations will be offering little in light entertainment. The proposed programme schedule for Radio Azaania in Natal, a project of the Southern African Islamic Youth Conference, promises that 20 percent of airtime will be devoted to recitation and discussion of the Holy Quran, 10 percent to the sayings of the Prophet and 10 percent to the study of the Arabic language.
The woolliness of the IBA Act’s definition of a community station has resulted in numerous applications for community licences by commercial outfits, in an apparent effort to bypass delays in the granting of commercial licences.
Tony Sanderson, one of the IBA’s greatest critics, is in the queue for a community licence — although his Solid Gold FM Stereo application is in the name of well-known Jo’burg progressive Paul Asherson.
The giant Caxton publishing group wants a licence to start a community station in Nelspruit, where its Lowvelder paper operates.
And Peter Moolman, brother of Caxton’s MD Terry Moolman, who owns a string of “knock `n drops” from George to Mossel Bay, has applied for half a dozen licences along the coast.
The applications — which are available for public scrutiny — make for fascinating reading, especially when it comes to the CVs of the applicants.
Radio Horizon, a West Rand aspirant, informs us that one of its members, Mrs Diana Maria Streicher, has been treasurer of the local church for 30 years and “has no criminal record or offences”.
Theo de Jager, heading up Baken (Beacon) Radio, a project of the Junior Rapportryers, says he has been a consultant to the Atomic Energy Corporation, Denel (Armscor) — and the Ostrich Production Association.
Tony Dovale, the head of Radio CANI (an acronym for constant and never-ending improvement), which is threatening to beam self-help interactive radio into Alexandra and Sandton, includes in his CV the disclosure that he is the youngest person in South Africa to receive the Chief Scouts Award (date not given). He is also a current member of the Inanda Club.
Radio Cycad, which has ambitions to entertain and inform the residents of Belfast, Ogies, Middelberg and Carolina, includes among its office bearers Johanna Smit (22), who, we are told, is in very good health and has a cheese and wine certificate.
And fail-safe Radio Graaff Reinet will depend upon the services of Ray’s Radio and TV Repairs to keep its signal on air.
The IBA has also received several applications for TV licences. Among them is one from Box-Office Films in Durban, which is planning a Natal/PWV station called Film-Net targeted at the Indian community. Two of those supporting the application are Dr B Mararjee and Mr S Naidoo, both of whom describe themselves as “Male, South African citizen committed to the RDP”. The response of the applicant to what precautions will be taken to ensure the company is non-profit: “All accounts will be transparent.”
All this, and much, much more will come under the scrutiny of IBA counsellors over the next few weeks, or — as many fear — months.