Community radio stands united
SANDTON – Alex FM has sent out an appeal to the community for any donations.
Sandton radio stations have stood united to help Alex FM get back on its feet.
The Alexandra-based community radio station was one of a handful of stations that were vandalised and looted in the early hours of July 13.
According to a statement by station manager Takalane Nemangowe, due to the immense damage the station was not able to operate.
“The property is damaged and radio equipment has been stolen from the radio station. This has lead to the closing of the radio station for an indefinite period till further notice,” said Nemangowe.
Without a silver lining in sight for the Alex station, Rivonia-based music station LM Radio came to the rescue offering up its location for the community station to broadcast from.
In addition, equipment was donated from the community and Alex FM was back on the air the very next day (July 14).
“We were shocked that an entity of the community, for the community, could be destroyed in this manner, we just had to help,” said LM Radio group CEO Lyndon Johnstone
As a radio station itself, LM Radio understood the importance of working together to keep the radio medium strong.
“A community is only as strong as the sum of its parts, and staying on air was key to ensuring that their staff still had jobs. We couldn’t [allow] innocent victims to suffer in this way,” added Johnstone.
Primedia Broadcasting in Sandown also came on board pledging R50 000 to help Alex FM rebuild.
Speaking to Radio 702’s Bongani Bingwa, Primedia chairperson Geraint Crwys-Williams said they would donate equipment and help leverage its technical and engineering skills to try and help Alex FM rebuild its studios.
Skyside South Africa in Randburg had also donated equipment.
Alex FM has also sent out an appeal to members of the community who could assist with equipment or financial donations. They can contact the station manager Nemangowe on takie@alexfm.co.za
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