New Mash FM board members at their station

MASHISHING – A new interim board, comprising four members, was appointed for Mash FM at a meeting on Saturday at Mashishing Community Hall. This was after the station renewed its broadcasting licence in November and was given 60 days to elect a new board of directors.

The community radio station has since been running without a board due to the previous members resigning. According to the station manager, Mr George Maphanga, the station needs to work with a team that will represent the community and ensure that the station complies with the regulations.

The new board will operate for only a couple of months. After that the community will meet again and elect new members who will serve for five years.

“Due to the bad turnout of residents, we will have to host another meeting and elect again,” he said. “According to the law we must have a satisfactory number of at least 300 people, for us to elect a board of directors,” he explained. Fewer than 30 attended.

A community member Ms Nozi Makgabutlane said she felt the station was doing a good thing by inviting residents to be part of the meeting.

“I am glad they involve us, we get to interact with them and share ideas,” she said. “It is very wise of them to invite us so that we can elect the people we want in the board and also to address the issues we have, unlike when a caller calls on air during a show to complain.”

Mr John Maimela, a new board member, said he looked forward to representing the community. “I would like to see the station moving forward, growing and mostly making sure that the issues within our communities are resolved,” he explained.

Maphanga has urged the community members to attend the next meeting.

“We would like the residents to attend the upcoming meeting so that they can elect board members,” he said.

The date and place will be announced in due course.