Siyaya fm members with Chief Executive
Officer of the National Community Radio Forum, Mabalane
Mfundisi during the official launch of the Cato Manor
based community radio project. As from January 2002 Siyaya
fm will increase its broadcasts to two times a week.
Siyaya
fm popular in Cato Manor
The
Cato Manor community based radio programme, Siyaya fm,
which is broadcast on Highway Radio on 101.5 fm on Wednesdays,
will be increased from one to two broadcasts a week. But
listeners will have to wait until January 2002 for this
to happen.
The dates and the times are not yet finalised.
This news was unveiled at the official launch of the community
radio project which was held at the Umkhumbane library
on 28 September.
The plan is that the broadcasts will be increased until
Siyaya radio becomes a fully-fledged community radio station,
something greatly lacking in KwaZulu-Natal which has the
least number of community radio stations of all the provinces.
In the near future Siyaya fm will be constituted as a
legal entity and will be run and managed by the team of
16 community members that helped to established it. The
team has been empowered through training and the development
of skills necessary to run a viable and sustainable community
radio station.
Currently, the main focus of Siyaya fm is what has been
termed 'development radio'. Issues such as access to housing,
home ownership skills, access to municipal services, health
issues and many others are covered in an attempt to empower
listeners to further their personal development and the
development of their communities.
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A number
of sites have been identified throughout the Cato Manor
development area for the construction of parks and playgrounds.
Funding for this project has been made available by the
European Union, through the CMDA programme. It is specifically
aimed at providing recreational places in areas where the
construction of houses is complete or nearing completion.
Neighbourhood parks will be built in those areas where there
is a suitable piece of land available. These will cater
for a variety of needs: a typical park would include a playground
for small children, an attraction for teenagers (for example,
a basketball hoop), and a meeting place for older people.
Facilities like this have already been built in Nsimbini,
Hilltop and Chesterville Extension.
In other places, the emphasis will be on providing a safe
playground for small children. Surveillance from surrounding
homes was an important factor in considering the suitability
of sites for these playgrounds.
The CMCO Sport and Recreation sub-committee was consulted
on the locations for the sites. Neighbourhood committees
will be asked to participate in the design process and management
of the facilities. Construction will start early in 2002.
The success of the parks will ultimately depend on the involvement
of surrounding residents in making sure that the parks are
well used and cared for. The Unicity’s Parks Department
has undertaken to assist residents to maintain the facilities.
Rest
in Peace Linda
Linda
Manyoni, one of the founding members of IZWI, has died after
a long illness. At the time of his death Linda worked for
BONA one of South Africa’s leading magazines which he joined
after a stint with Next magazine. He was a member of the
KwaZulu- Natal Media Workers Association of South Africa.
"His
invaluable contribution to the formation of Cato Manor’s
vibrant community newspaper will always be remembered. We
are glad to have been part of his successful career although
it was short lived.
"Linda was a talented journalist who was skilled in
all the aspects of the trade. He could write eloquently
on politics, sports and entertainment. The journalism fraternity
has lost a diligent colleague who believed that the pen
was mightier than the sword. He will be sadly missed,"
said Mazwi Ngcobo, the editor of IZWI.
He leaves two sons and a daughter.
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COMMUNITY
RADIO