Khuluma Community Radio Project

The project started with community radio stations in the main townships and a few rural areas. Non governmental organisations and several diplomatic missions assisted the project by sending experts on the field and bought equipment to be given to the stations.

The project held its first bilateral steering committee in Pretoria in October 2003. It was decided that the first training sessions organised under the Khuluma flag should focus on the then forthcoming 2004 general and provincial elections, in direct line with the recommendation of the project that has to reinforce the democratic life in the country.

The objectives of training programme included to:

• introduce local government and community radio station staff to the “Facilitation of Communication Between Local Government and Community Radio Stations Project”
• introduce Local Government officials to the community radio station as a medium that can be used to inform communities and facilitate service delivery by the municipality
• build an understanding by community radio station staff of local government programs and processes.
• provide a forum to community radio stations and local government officials to initiate a process of working together.

The radio stations are spread country wide and they are: Gauteng TNG Community radio, Gauteng Rainbow FM, Gauteng Jozi FM, Gauteng Soshanguve Gauteng Alx Fm, Gauteng Radio Islam, Western Cape Bush Radio, Western Cape Radio, Western Cape UWC radio, North West Province Mafisa Community radio, North West Province Moretele CR,Free State, Free State Lentswe FM, Free State Mosupatsela CR, Free State Naledi CR, Free State Qwa Qwa CR, Free State Setsoto CR, Kwazulu-Natal Radio Khwezi, Kwazulu Natal Durban Youth Kwazulu-Natal The Voice of the Midlands/Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal Icora FM, Kwazulu-Natal Maputaland CR, Kwazulu-Natal Izwilomzantsi CR, Limpopo Radio Turf University of the North, Limpopo Mohodi Community radio Mohodi, Limpopo Mokopane Community Radio, Limpopo Moletje Progressive CR, Limpopo Botlokwa CR, Limpopo Univen CR, Eastern Cape Cbfm, Eastern Cape Khanya Community Radio, Eastern Cape Vukani Community Radio/Cala, Eastern Cape Radio Graaff Reinet, Eastern Cape Radio Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Unitra CR, Eastern Cape Takalani CR, Northern Cape Riverside Community Radio, Northern Cape Teemaneng Community radio, Northern Cape Radio Kaboesna Calvinia, Mpumalanga Greater Middleburg FM and Mpumalanga Barberton Community Radio

Political development.

“Community radio stations were established to give particular attention to rural and semi-urban communities that were not well served by the main-stream media. Since 1994, community radio has gained momentum as an agent of change and information delivery to communities across South Africa.”