Stop the mayhem, urges GCIS

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) condemned what it called the abhorrent looting of Alex FM and other business properties in Alexandra.

“It’s a sad for Alex FM and the community at large that their only asset, a community radio station, has been looted by its own people of all its broadcast equipment. These are nothing but acts of criminality that should be condemned in the strongest of terms,” GCIS acting director-general, Michael Currin said.

The looting occurred in the early hours of July 13 and led to the temporary silencing of the station for a day as it was taken off the airwaves. The station is back on the airwaves and is broadcasting from the studios of LM Radio in Sandton.

The radio station has been serving the community for the past 27 years and has been the sole voice of the residents of the township. “We are equally livid that just two days before the Alex FM incident, an SABC news crew was robbed of their equipment while covering the protests in the same township.

“The violence, looting and destruction to property need to stop now and that violence is never an answer. The media plays a crucial role to the economic and political life and development of citizens and it produces a broad range of information to stimulate citizens on the various developmental issues in their country.

“South African media is a platform to amplify voice, facilitate meaningful participation, and foster social change. We need to work together to build our country. We cannot destroy what we have worked so hard to build.”

Currin said every South African had a role to play in restoring calm to those areas that have been affected by violence. He urged religious leaders, traditional leaders, trade unions, businesses, community organisations and political parties to come together in an effort to calm the situation down.

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