Ikwekwezi FM

Last updated

iKwekwezi FM
IKwekwezi FM (2013 Logo).gif
Frequency 90.6 - 107.7 [1]
Ownership
Owner SABC
History
First air date
1 April 1983
Former call signs
Radio Ndebele
Links
Website http://www.ikwekwezifm.co.za/

iKwekwezi FM (previously Radio Ndebele) is a South African national radio station based in Johannesburg in the Gauteng province broadcasting in the Southern Ndebele language.The most popular presenter is the current station manager Philip ThizaThiza Mahlangu and Mbuzana Nyathi, one of the powerful sports commentator and anchor of this station is Lucky Professor Mahlangu. The station was advocated by the late Pinky Mabona and Nofanezile Matjhiyana.

Contents

History

Founded

Ikwekwezi FM, previously known as Radio Ndebele, was founded on 1 January 1983. It is noted that this was a New Year's Day, workers first reported for duty on the first working day of the year. [2]

First airing

It was first heard in the FM 93.6 (Nylstroom) transmitter on 1 April 1983 after a three-month staff induction. The first continuity presenter was David Malatsi and the first news reader was Mandla Masanabo. [2]

Location

The Station was then housed at the SABC Northern Transvaal Region, based at Minnaar Street in Pretoria. It later relocated to Weavind Park also in Pretoria, then to Auckland Park in Johannesburg, based in Hatfield, Tshwane and now it is currently at Auckland Park in Johannesburg again as from 2021. [2]

Staff

The staff consisted of the management team , announcers, operations assistance, a translator, music compiler, typist clerk and station secretary. Technical staff belonged and reported directly to the station. News and current affairs were presented by the station announcers on a rotational basis as per time table specifications. The station management had full editorial rights. [2]

Program format

The program format was to educate, inform and entertain with the aim to promoting isiNdebele language to a written language. The staff all studied isiZulu at school because isiNdebele was then not offered at schools. The radio station participated in language development through its program format and participated in the then isiNdebele Language Board by designating a representative to attend all language sittings. isiNdebele language was first introduced in schools at Sub Standard A (Grade 1) in 1985. The first authors were Language Board members, inclusive of station representatives; viz. Batjeleni Skosana and Peter Mahlangu. The station logo was then "Sikhuluma Isikhethu" meaning: "We Speak Our Language". [2]

Change of the slogan

In 1986 the station slogan was changed to "Ikulethela Ubuhle Obunethabo" meaning: Radio Ndebele "Brings you the beauty of joy.". The slogan was based on the argument that the station would change people's lives for the better in terms of socio-economic development. [2]

Radio transformation

Since the new dispensation in 1994, there started a process of transforming the radio stations from being ethnic based to be reflective of the country's rainbow nation. That process was then effected in 1996, when Radio Ndebele was changed to be named "iKwekwezi FM" (meaning "The Star") with the slogan "Lapho Sikhona Kunokukhanya" ("Wherever we are there is Light"). It was during the era of the first audience representative as the station manager; i.e. Oupa Mahlangu, one of the first announcers. His successor is the current station manager, Phillip Mahlangu who went through the ranks of the station. [2]

Coverage areas and frequencies

The station broadcasts in these areas and in FM on the following frequencies throughout South Africa.

Coverage Areas & Frequencies [3]
LocationFreq. (MHz)
Gembokspruit97.3
Dullstroom107.7
Gauteng106.3
Modimolle90.6
Kameeldrift96.8
Kwa-Mhlanga93.8
Potgietersrus104.1
Middelburg91.8
Davel94.5

KWAZULU NATAL |109.7-107.7

Broadcast languages

Broadcast time

Target audience

Listenership figures

Estimated Listenership [4]
7 DayAve. Mon-Fri
May 20131 560 000856 000
Feb 20131 541 000755 000
Dec 20121 604 000785 000
Oct 20121 603 000784 000
Aug 20121 663 000820 000
Jun 20121 734 000852 000

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The Annual Guide to Radio in South Africa (AdVantage 2012). Media 24. 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "iKwekwezi FM Website (About)". Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. "iKwekwezi FM Website (Freq)". Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  4. SAARF RAMS (Presentations)