South Africa - In Touch Mission International

June 01, 2006

Tragic Closings

Good News Community Radio (GNCR) has lost its court appeal and has been ordered to stop broadcasting. This ominous precedent threatens
religious freedom in South Africa.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) ordered the award winning Good News Community Radio in KwaZulu-Natal to switch off and close down. Last month, following a lengthy court appeal to reverse this instruction, it was denied and station operators were ordered to pay court costs.

Good News Community Radio is based at Shortlands, near Verulam on the North coast of KwaZulu Natal. It has been broadcasting since September 1995 and recently won a national award for their “Exam Buzz” education programs.

The station teamed up with educators to provide free tuition for matriculants, especially those in rural areas. Students were able to phone in and interact with educators during the programs, receiving clarity on any exam related issue. The station held daily competitions for students and its free on-air tuition programs became highly popular among learners and educators as almost every subject in the curriculum was catered for.

Yet, this award winning Community Radio Station has been told to close down its successful operations. Religious freedom must be respected in all areas of life, including the airwaves. If the government can close down Christian radio stations, Christian churches could be next. Freedom of religion should be a non-negotiable foundation for freedom.

Tony Naidoo, GNCR’s Youth Program announcer, asked: “Why take a perfectly functioning and viable radio station off air? It has never been an instrument of harm to anyone. Our programs focus on education, drug and alcohol abuse, child and women abuse, life skills, morals and values.”

There are more than enough airwaves and frequencies available. Radio in South Africa is a vital part of daily life along with telephones, motorcars, personal computers and E-mail. It is incomprehensible that a government department can limit freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion and freedom of association on the airwaves.

It is cause for alarm that ICASA should feel the need to close down a successful, award-winning, Christian community radio station, broadcasting for over 10 years with more than 100,000 listeners.

Remember Rwanda? Complete government control of radio stations preceded the genocide there. Independent newspapers and community radio stations in Zimbabwe have all been closed down to silence any opposition to the communist tyrant Mugabe.

Obviously ICASA has different criteria for Muslim and secular radio stations in South Africa. A double standard is being applied to Christian community radio stations by targeting GNCR. Another broadcast victim is Radio Pulpit, the only national Christian radio station, now being limited to two hours daily – 4 AM to 6 AM!

Good News has faithfully served over 100,000 listeners for over 10 years. There were programs for all ethnic and religious groups, broadcast in 5 languages 24/7. If GNCR can be closed down, every Christian radio station in South Africa is threatened.

GNCR producer, technician and announcer, Steven Mabugana, explained: “We were among the first to apply in this area, in 1995.”

“Our Community Radio Station falls in the community of interest category not the geographical category,” Mr. Mabugana noted. “This means that the court ruled on things that are not actually applicable to us. Our relevant community has nothing to do with race; it is about a group of people with a similar interest – Christianity. We are serving a huge Christian community with a combination of Indian, Zulu and English listeners.”

Despite over 108,000 residents in the community signing petitions in support of GNCR, ICASA has remained determined to close down this vibrant Christian Community Radio Station.

Please pray for this dynamic Christian community radio station. To learn more about their ministry visit www.gncr.org.za and to communicate your support for them write to: gncr@telkomsa.net.

If you want to express your opinion to ICASA, their contact details are:ICASA Chairperson – Mr. Paris Mashile and ICASA CEO – Ms. Jackie Marche E-mail: info@icasa.org.za

“Declare His glory among the heathen, His marvelous works among all nations.” 1 Chronicles 16:24

Meanwhile, one person was shot and killed, and two wounded during a Muslim terrorist attack on a Christian community radio station in Nairobi, Kenya.

Eight masked assailants stormed into Hope FM, a Pentecostal church radio station during a program that compared the teachings of the Bible with the Quran. A security guard was stabbed and later shot dead during the attack. Another was wounded along with a passerby. The assailants then poured flammable liquids in the offices of the radio station and set it alight. The attack occurred on Saturday 13 May. A police spokesman reported that there have not yet been any arrests.

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