Bush Radio is asking you to give a little love.
Africa’s oldest community radio station celebrates its 21st birthday this year and as an NGO (non-governmental organisation) they’ve depended on donations from the community.
Like many in the sector, Bush Radio has fallen on tough times as funding has dried up.
To stay afloat, they are appealing to mense instead of giving presents, to rather give R21 as they celebrate their milestone.
Bush Radio has been the training ground for hundreds of broadcasters over the years, many became well-known voices and faces on the Cape Town media landscape, including Good Hope FM’s Sandra Rosenberg, Vania Cloete and Ready D.
The youngest broadcaster at the moment is just six years old, and is part of the programme Children’s Radio Education Workshop.
Programme integrator Adrian Louw says the station relies heavily on donor support.
“Bush Radio is credited with ‘freeing the airwaves’ through its challenging the apartheid government by broadcasting illegally - back when the department of Home Affairs controlled broadcasting in the country,” he says.
Adrian says they are in dire need of upgrades and new studio equipment to continue developing the next generation of broadcasters.
“As Cape Town is the Mother City, it should indeed be proud that it is the home to the ‘Mother of Community Radio in Africa’,” adds Adrian.