Gem from Ratanda celebrates 93rd birthday

Tshungu became one of South Africa's broadcasting pioneers during the late 1950s and told HERAUT how, with so little resources at the time, employees had to find creative ways to deliver the news and other programmes to the public.

Justice Tshungu, a retired SABC and radio veteran who celebrated his 93rd birthday on October 18, was one of the honourable guests during the Heritage Association of South Africa’s (HASA) 17th annual symposium - hosted by the Heidelberg Heritage Association in October last year. Here he is seen with Lesedi Local Municipality executive mayor Lerato Maloka and HASA chairman Jacques Stoltz during the unveiling of the HASA Blue Plaque in Ratanda. Tshungu celebrated his 93rd birthday on October 18.

HEIDELBERG – Justice Tshungu, said to be one of the first residents of Ratanda, celebrated his 93rd birthday on October 18.

Tshungu, who is a retired SABC and radio veteran, was one of the honourable guests during the Heritage Association of South Africa’s (HASA) 17th annual symposium, which was hosted by the Heidelberg Heritage Association in October last year.

One of the highlights of the symposium was the unveiling of the HASA Blue Plaque, which honoured Tshungu for giving Ratanda its name 60 years ago.

Tshungu used a combination of the Sotho verb ‘Rata’ and the Isizulu verb ‘T(h)anda’ which both mean ‘to love’ as a symbol of unity, when the name of the township was decided upon.

A very young Justice Tshungu during the late 1950s/early 1960s when he worked as radio broadcaster for Radio Sesotho

Newly elected HASA chairperson Jacques Stoltz thanked Tshungu at the symposium for the opportunity he provided HASA to leave a lasting legacy in the township.

When HERAUT phoned Tshungu on his birthday to congratulate him on this milestone, he was overcome with gratitude and joy, saying “God has blessed me today in more ways than one.”

Tshungu became one of South Africa’s broadcasting pioneers during the late 1950s and told HERAUT how, with so little resources at the time, employees had to find creative ways to deliver the news and other programmes to the public.

He later went on to work for radio stations such as Radio Sesotho and Radio Bantu – a radio station which characterised all the marginalised ethnic groups of the time. It became known as Radio Lebowa in 1962, reflecting the name of the former homeland – Lebowa and later Thobela FM.

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