The spokesperson of Icasa, Paseka Maleka, says the radio station in the Lejweleputswa district in the Free State appealed to have Icasa’s decision revoked.

Following further discussions, the Complaints and Compliance Committee of Icasa made a decision to reopen the station. The station manager could not wait to pass on the news to his social media friends with an announcement that the radio station will be back on air by 26 November 2019.

This follows the announcement on 30 July 2019 that Icasa will close down 29 community radio stations with immediate effect for noncompliance. Paseka says so far 18 of those stations have been closed down with others to follow soon. He further says the issue of The Rock FM is distinguishable and has its own merits, based on what they presented to the committee. “It is the only station that is revoked and the rest will remain closed,” he says.

The closing down of community radio stations has seen a lot of South Africans upset. The Minister of Communications and Digital Technology, Stella Ndabeni, and Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, said in a joint media statement that the community media sector needs to be properly supported to be compliant and sustainable as it is an alternative voice and plays a role in social cohesion and development.

Icasa approved the publication of an Invitation To Apply (ITA) on 1 November 2019 in respect of applications for Class Community Sound Broadcasting Service Licences and applications for Radio Frequency Spectrum for purposes of providing the community with sound broadcasting services.

Prospective applicants should complete a pre-registration notice, which is the prequalifying stage for the registration of a class broadcasting service licence. A list of available frequencies in each district and local municipality, as per the Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan 2013, is included in the application.

OFM News/Marvin Ntsane