A COMMUNITY radio station, Vaaltar FM, from Taung recently won a South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) award for its role in uplifting the lives of poor people.

  The station manager, Kgakololo Mothei said the community radio station that broadcasts in Taung and surrounding areas were crowned the provincial winners and came as runners-up at national level.

  Mothei further said the station won the provincial leg of the SAHRC community radio competition.

  “The competition was dubbed “Stand up for human rights” and seeks to honour community radios which champions human rights issues on behalf of ordinary civilians. The SAHRC and the United Nations Human rights (office of the high commissioner) are the custodians of this awards which was held in Johannesburg on March 29.

  Vaaltar FM was honoured after a heart-breaking story covered few months ago. The story depicted the plight of rural schools which still use trees as classrooms in modern day and era. The story was about Pelonngwe Primary School which is located in Takaneng village, near Taung. There is overcrowding at that school and pupils use trees as classrooms,” she said.

  Mothei also applauded her dedicated reporters for touching the lives of ordinary citizens.

National Community Radio Forum provincial chairperson, Tsholofelo Moepeng said: “We want to commend the Vaaltar FM Community Radio for their achievements. The awards can be credited to dedicated staff members as well as community. They have shown resilience amid hostile economic conditions throughout the years since its establishment.”

  He added: “We applaud them for using the platform to address current challenges faced by our society in the current epoch, especially that of Digital Migration. South Africa has witnessed substantial transformation of the broadcasting sector over the past two decades. Changes are most visible when it comes to community broadcasting, as shown by the number of community radio stations that have been licenced and the increase in radio listenership.”

  Moepeng said that statistics show that many people listen to community radio stations across the country.

  He indicated that the recent figure confirmed that radio is the most listened to medium with 37 million listeners and records 256 community radio stations to date.

  “This sector needs enormous experience and skills. Advertisers invest their money where there are guarantees and Vaaltar FM has demonstrated to be one of trusted and reliable business partners. We wish the province to host the National Community Radio Forum conference anticipated to take place soon,” he said.

  The forum is where all member stations throughout the country would be descending to showcase their abilities.

  “We welcome other stations from elsewhere to the shores of the most beautiful and tourist friendly province belonging to the likes of our own dear grandparents like Mama Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Uncle JB Marks and Moses Kotane to mention the least distinctive Africans who put the interest of their country and its people first rather than self-enrichment in the expense of the poor masses,” Moepeng said.

   Vaaltar FM can be reached online through www.vaaltarfm.com or directly tune in on 93.6 MHZ. – Newsnote

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