The residents of Mdantsane have been waiting for a long time to get a proper community radio. When the community radio station Mdantsane FM was inaugurated our guest writer and Mdantsane resident Siyanda Nkonyeni wrote an article for The Mdantsane Way Magazine about this memorable and historical event.
Today we are paying tribute to the team of Mdantsane FM for adding so much value to the township since the day they first started broadcasting.
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| Listening.....and talking about the local stuff Mncedisi Kaizer Mabhulu |
"Community radio" is defined as a radio service offering a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial and public broadcasting.
Community radio stations serve geographic communities and communities of
interest.
They broadcast content, that is popular and relevant to a
local, specific audience of these communities but is often overlooked by commercial or
mass-media broadcasters.
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| Siseko Kondile - Mdantsane FM still going strong after more than one year of broadcasting and informing the township about issues that concern the residents |
Our own purpose of existence as an online magazine, that portrays the township of Mdantsane is to give the community a voice. What we are doing through our photography, article and movies, the Mdantsane FM radio station is doing through words and music.
And they are doing good! They also have become a platform for young artists and musicians.
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| Mncedisi Kaizer Mabhulu Senior Producer at Mdantsane FM |
Community radio stations are operated, owned,
and influenced by the communities they serve. They are generally non-profit organizations
and provide a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, and
communities to tell their own stories, to share experiences and, in a
media-rich world, to become creators and contributors of media.
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| The lives of the others....... |
They give a voice to those we only see from behind!
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| Mdantsane residents love their community radio |
They give a voice to those whom we only see in the distance!
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| Community radios help to ensure the the rights of minority groups are heard and included in government programming |
To the ones we pass by in a hurry!
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| Community Radio is a tool for development |
And the ones we can not see clearly at all!
Community radio gives a voice to the voiceless.
But it is much more than that. Community radios offer a forum for dialogue between communities and their governments.
Community radio helps to ensure, that vulnerable
and minority groups are represented in society and that they needs are included and represented in government policies. Through the intervention of community radios laws have been passed.
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| The Mdantsane FM teamwas present at the inauguration of a work container for the elderly funded by the NDA in NU 12 |
If run properly community radios become a tool for development.
Community Radio stations can educate, inform and create awareness amongst local
audiences about issues that effect their lives like health, education,
water and human rights.
Community radio stations are legally defined as a distinct broadcasting sector in many countries, such as France, South Africa and Ireland.
Much of the legislation has included terms and connotations such as "social benefit", "social objectives" and "social gain" as part of the definition.
Community radio has developed differently in different countries, and
the term has somewhat different meanings in the different countries.
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| A Mdantsane FM team member giving us her best smile |
In many parts of the world, community radio acts as a vehicle for the community and voluntary civil society, agencies, NGOs and citizens to work in partnership to further community development
aims, in addition to broadcasting.
Mdantsane FM has been doing exactly this since their day of inauguration and it can not be overlooked that the station has contributed to the development of the township considerably.
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| Overlooking NU 12 |
Problems? Sure, there are many like management, inadequate equipment, financial and staff issues but none of them could not be overcome. Voices have been heard that Mdantsane FM is not going to survive but as we see it they are still going strong and they are loved.
All community radios encounter difficulties.
Mdantsane needs a community radio. Research in different African countries has shown that community radios are often the most important sources of information in their communities. Mdantsane is no exception in this regard.
Mdantsane FM is also recognized as representing an open forum for dialogue
and debate at the local level in the township, with access for members of government,
civil society organizations and the public.
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| What happens where you live is always closest to your heart |
So, lets talk about it! Thank you Mdantsane FM for a good job!
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| Community radios are social change agents |
Radio programs of Mdantsane FM have not only informed people about important events but as one resident of Mdantsane told us"they encouraged me to change my behavior"!
