By OBAKENG MAJE
Listeners of the newly-launched community radio station, Bodumedi FM said they are grateful to finally have a fully-fletched radio station in their area. The Schweizer Reneke-based radio station was established back in 2015 and operating as a makeshift until it received funding from the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) recently.
The station received state-of-the-art studio equipment including computers from MDDA. One of the listeners, Mosimanemang Sirwe from Amalia said: “We are grateful to finally have a proper radio station in our area. We hope the station management will continue to serve us diligently without fear or favour.
“As the community of Schweizer Reneke, we will continue to give the management our unwavering support. We also want to see the station growing abundantly. So, we want to send our appreciation to the MDDA and the Office of the Presidency for their support.”
Sirwe also encouraged local businesses to support the station through advertising.
The Member of Parliament (MP) and Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Thembi Sewiya, who was the keynote speaker, urged community members to embrace the radio station as it will be used as a tool to disseminate information.
“This radio station will empower the community of Schweizer Reneke and its surroundings. The Bodumedi FM’s presence will ensure that community members are able to make informed decisions regarding issues such as health, dealing with family matters and etc.
“Part of the MDDA is to create an enabling environment for media development and diversity, which reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans. The agency is glad to be able to lend a hand in growing what the station started with a make-shift studio in 2017,” Sewiya said.
She also urged community members not to burn the radio station during service delivery protests.
Meanwhile, the executive mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Motseokae Sense Maje shared the same sentiments. Maje said one of the critical components of under-development is information poverty.
“I am raising this deputy minister because we are gathered here today in an effort to address and unlock this challenge facing our people. We are gathered here today to create access to information and knowledge in the process of developing our people.
“Our people can only become better through sharing of information and being integrated into the entire global family. To that effect, we as the municipality, want to appreciate the effort of MDDA working together with the Office of the Presidency,” he said.
Maje said the entire efforts made, realised that the rural community members form part of the entire country and ultimately, the global community. He said the municipality pledges to assist Bodumedi FM with fully-fletched branding materials.
“The municipality will continue to show enormous support to community media as it plays a crucial role within communities,” said Maje.
In his address to the ceremony, a board member of Bodumedi FM, Ivan Otsheleng thanked the government for the support and re-committed that the radio station will work with all relevant stakeholders in advancing the interest and the development of society.
The Guardian 