Pheli FM gets new equipment

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has described the establishment of local community radio station, Pheli FM, as a beacon that has touched countless lives, offered hope and served as a trusted companion.

The deputy minister, together with the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), handed over studio equipment at Pheli FM situated in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, on Friday.

The new studio equipment is expected to improve the station’s broadcasting and production capabilities and enhance the quality of its content while providing a more efficient working environment for presenters, volunteers and producers.

“Celebrating 10 years on air this past December is no small feat. It is indeed a testament to the station’s fortitude in an ever increasingly tough media landscape,” Morolong said.

Morolong praised the station’s longevity, citing it as the true ethos of community radio. 

“Pheli FM is deeply embedded in the daily life of the people it serves. It knows the heartbeat of local schools, the small businesses, the community organisations, religious centres, sports clubs and the young people in this community actively searching for opportunities,” he said.

The deputy minister noted the station’s collaboration with residents in documenting the history of Atteridgeville.

“This project highlights just how intertwined the station’s identity is with the people themselves.  When a community has a platform to speak and engage on, it gains the power to find its own solutions. 

“Like so many townships across our country, Atteridgeville continues to wrestle with deep-seated challenges of crime, unemployment, poverty and limited opportunities which are all direct consequences of the legacy of apartheid.   

“We must remember that this township was deliberately designed by the apartheid regime under the Group Areas Act as a segregated dormitory settlement. To overcome this history, we need media platforms that do not merely broadcast what is wrong but actively illuminate what can be done,” Morolong said.

He added that there is a need for platforms that connect people directly to opportunities, inspire young talent and strengthen social cohesion.

“Pheli FM has chosen not to stand on the sidelines, but to stand with this community as part of the solution. You have embraced your mandate to inform, educate, and entertain by actively countering the weight of history by cultivating a culture of skills development and hope.   

“By opening your doors to train local youth as presenters, producers and technicians, you are placing real tools for growth directly into the hands of the community.

“The importance of community media in South Africa cannot be overstated,” he said.

The deputy minister said since the 2004/2005 financial year, the MDDA has funded 361 community radio and television stations. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.