Jozi FM, a community radio station that broadcasts to the southern parts of Johannesburg including Soweto, Ennerdale and Katlehong, is undergoing a major reshuffling of its senior management. The restructuring comes amidst a wide yet unverified radio industry rumour that funds from the station were not reaching the community on whose behalf Jozi FM is being run. In the last few years Jozi FM has become one of community radio’s success stories, putting the lie to the argument that the model is not sustainable.
Junior Ramovha, chairperson of the station’s board, says: ‘Jozi FM is a talk-show radio station which began 11 years ago with 11 volunteer employees. It has currently grown to 41 full-time employees. The company’s surplus revenue has grown from around R500,000 three years ago to over R1-million last year as a result of bigger companies like Vodacom and Sanlam advertising. The listenership is up to 700,000 and we’re hoping to exceed a million in the next few months.”
The station is seeking to improve its signal strength, says Ramovha, and will ask the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa for permission to enlarge its footprint, which is currently 96 square kilometres.
Ramovha has completely denied all rumours of irregularities, saying that auditor reports show that there has been no mismanagement of funds by the station or its executives.
‘It is true that both the MD and general manager are moving on, but if there had been a problem I would not be retaining them as consultants to the station,” says Ramovha.
The MD position and post of general manager will be combined into one role after the upcoming annual general meeting. Both internal and external candidates are being reviewed for the job.
Ramovha has called on anyone who has factual proof of mismanagement of funds to come forward with documentation to prove it.
Ramovha admitted there had been basic problems with employees, but says these came about because of a lack of clear station policy on what was expected of staff.
As part of its mandate to serve its community, Ramovha says the station is looking at starting a new programme called ‘The Ambassadors”, to identify role models within the community.
Ramovha says the station is running a number of community-based programmes, such as the intern programme in the editorial and sales departments. ‘The station is also involved in events like the Woman’s Day race in Soweto and the Community Games held during the festive season, and is very visible in Soweto with substantial advertising and regular live broadcasts.”
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