Tension simmering between Muni and Giyani Radio Station
Tension is simmering between the Greater Giyani Municipality (GGM) and Giyani Community Radio (GCR FM) over claims of harassment.
Sales manager of the GCR FM, Rodney Mabunda accuse GGM and the police in Giyani of continuous harassment of the station staff and management.
“For the past two years the station has been operating under unbearable condition due to constant attempt by GGM management, to close it down,” said Mabunda.
Mabunda accuse Municipal Spokesperson Steven Mavunda, Municipal manager Mkhacani Chauke, Mayor Sasavona Mathebula among others of abusing their administrative and political power to bring the station into disrepute. He further claims that the officials are using the municipal budget to fund the operation to close down GCR FM.
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“The recent attempt to stop GCR four year celebration is the clear indication that GGM and Giyani SAPS are colluding together to stop GCR from operating,” he said.
He added that the municipal officials accompanied by the police delayed the church service hosted by the station for five hours.
“On Saturday, April 28, they stormed GCR Fm studios accompanied by police during the church service and instructed everyone in attendance of the church service to vacate the venue and threatened to spray the community in attendance with tear gas and rubber bullets if they don’t vacate. They left after realizing that we have permission to hold the church service,” said Mabunda.
He said GCR FM staff lives are threatened by people who vandalised station studios during day light.
“Perpetrators are known but they have not been arrested despite the case being opened,” he claimed. He said GCR FM station is now operating with diesel power generator because of power cut by GGM. The Greater Giyani Municipal Spokesperson Steven Mavunda dismissed as untrue Mabunda statement that GGM and the police in Giyani continuously harass GCR FM station staff and management. However he confirmed that the GGM stopped the GCR FM festival at the municipality’s multipurpose facility through a court order.
“We stopped the GCR FM music festival to celebrate the station’s fourth birthday because the organizers failed to apply for the use of the vanue and also failed to comply with the Public Gathering Act which seeks to protect those in attendance.
“All what the station is doing now is to abuse every platform to disseminate pure lies to buy sympathy from unsuspecting members of the community. But soon people will know the truth,” said Mavunda. Several attempts to get comment from the police were unsuccessful.
