This, as uncertainty regarding the closure of 29 community stations and its personnel continues. The stations facing possible closure due to the non-compliance with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa) licensing conditions are said to have played a critical role in offering an alternative voice and advancing social cohesion. This is according to the two ministers. Both Ndabeni-Abrahams and Mthembu said the meeting scheduled for next Thursday aims to find solutions on how the stations could remain on the airwaves and secure jobs for the personnel working at these stations. One of the Free State’s popular community radio stations, The Rock FM, is amongst the 29 facing closure.

Looming job losses at these stations come at a time when the country is still shocked by the increasing unemployment rate. Statistician-general, Risenga Maluleke, on Tuesday revealed that the number of unemployed South Africans overall remains staggering high at 29.1%, with 6.7 million people actively looking for employment but remaining jobless.

Maluleke, added that the expanded unemployment rate, which includes unemployed people who have given up on finding jobs, remains unchanged at 38% whilst the Free State observed the largest increase of 0,9 of a percentage point.

OFM News