Finding the voice of Khayamandi is what a group of locals are doing thanks to Stellenbosch FM, which officially launched last month.
Mohau Monaheng, founder and station manager, started the station in July after recognising a need for the Khayamandi community to have a platform just for them. “The need was to focus on township news, local storytelling and information sharing, to give Khayamandi and Stellenbosch a dedicated voice,” he explained.
The online radio station’s tagline is “The Voice of eKhaya-Stellies”, which speaks of the team’s vision and mission.
Presenter Beauty “Mam Mya” Myataza says this mission is why she joined the team. “There are so many problems in our community, especially among the youth. This is why my programmes, Siphila ngobabalo and Mnye uThixo, mnye uMlamleli, preach gospel values and speak to the drug and alcohol abuse occurring in Khayamandi. So if someone can share their story of addiction, especially when the have made it through the challenges, this can help others in the same position.”
Throughout the week the station plays popular music with talk and amapiano programmes over weekends.
Fuelled by passion, enthusiasm
For Nompumelelo Ngemntu it is important to highlight the real-world problems residents of Khayamandi face. “For me that means unmasking addiction – all kinds of addictions. I’ll invite someone suffering addiction or someone who has been impacted by addiction. Gambling and drug addictions are impacting this community.”
Although no-one on the team had previous broadcasting experience, Monaheng says passion and enthusiasm has helped get the radio station off the ground.
Tau Mokhele added: “When my brother came up with this idea, I saw it as an opportunity. I’m still new on this [broadcasting] path, but we are helping each other, taking each other by the hand, especially for Mam Mya’s Sunday show.”
Onkgopotse Monaheng provides a dose of amapiano on Saturdays, with his show Piano Hour.
Radio has been a big part of Ngemntu’s life. “When I grew up in the Eastern Cape, all we had was a radio. I was always good at orals and speaking, so when I heard there was radio station in Khayamandi I had to get involved.”
Hope for growth
Poet Sinalo Sigenu says fame has nothing to do with what he hopes to accomplish through his show Mntwanomhle: yarharhama imbongi. “I want to help educate young people and help them grow in their culture and identity.”
His dream for the station is that it will grow its audience and effect change in the community for the better over the next five years.
The station is currently housed at the Khayamandi Corridor and shares its space with the Khayamandi Business Development Services. Monaheng hopes to find a more permanent home base for Stellenbosch FM.
Although the station currently broadcasts in isiXhosa, Monaheng hopes to expand its offering to English programmes and even some Afrikaans in future.
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