THE fate of uMhlathuze’s only ICASA registered radio station is unknown those involved remain tight-lipped.
The Fever has on numerous occasions tried to find out when Shine Fm will go on air and how far along the process is, after its re-launch in November when a new board was elected. However the official reply has been ‘no comment’, even though both the board and management say there are no problems.
Station manager Thami Maphumulo said there was ‘some activity’ taking place and some ‘unforeseen issues’ were under discussion.
Maphumulo at first declined comment; referring the Fever to the board for comment. Board chairman Dennis Mbatha then told the Fever that Maphumulo must comment ‘as the board is not in a position t do so’.
However, both the board secretary Promise Mgenge who also refused to comment and Maphumulo said all is fine at the station.
Shine FM was granted 30% of its allotted R600 000 cash injection by the Media Diversity and Development Agency (MDDA) in November 2009. The MDDA promised adequate training for the board but also maintained the station must be self-sufficient. It is uncertain if the training has commenced.
The station, which has suffered numerous setbacks since 2005, was hoping to go on air in January 2010 on 104.0FM.
Establish Facts Before Going Public, Mr Ngceke!
Dear Fever,
Thank you to Mthatha Fever for publishing another viewpoint insofar as the Unitra Community Radio chaos and crisis (UCR) is concerned, (Their Fight Musnt Affect The Radio KSDGF Fever 16 April 2010).
The shilly-shallying over Inkonjane Community Radio appears to be coming to a head as the court intervention to finalise the dispute scheduled for 27 November 2007, approaches.
"A HAPPY Nation translates to a healthy Nation", said a board member, Bongekile Phikwa while welcoming the guests at the opening of the Alfred Nzo community radio. The radio station hit the waves at 15h00 on the 21 November 2007, after it was adjourned twice.
The embattled OR-Tambo-based Unitra Community Radio is a in a mess and risks having its licence revoked by ICASA, due to the chaotic situation that the station finds itself in. The acting station manager, Wiseman Xabendlini is a law unto himself because the board is either dysfunctional or non-existent.
The UCR FM Annual General Meeting at last took place last Sunday despite the absence of the present station manager, Wiseman Xabendlini. This AGM is regarded as very successful. According to the report, the meeting was communicated to him but he never pitched up as he was expected to present the management report at the meeting. There was always an on going conflict in the radio station as the former presenters were in and out of court and court interdicts were issued time and again.
