of Talk Radio 702's FM frequency
14 September 2006
Chairman of the Board, Dan Moyane
Representatives of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
It is indeed a pleasure for me to address this celebration of Talk Radio
702's Frequency Modulation (FM).
Last year, the celebration of your 25th birthday was celebrated by prominent
politicians, government officials, celebrities, corporate leaders, sporting
personalities and thousands of your listeners. I am reminded of this because it
is testament to the scope of your influence and the impact you have on the
people of Gauteng and beyond.
702 FM is important to us as Gauteng because we share the same constituency.
You have been an invaluable source of news and information over the years and
have helped to encourage debate amongst the diversity of views found in the
province.
Your news reporting has always been among the best in the country and while
much of our history has been defined by racial division, you were pioneers in
that, from the start, you did not aim at an exclusive racial group. Since then
you have transformed yourselves from being multi-racial into a more non-racial
character and your listenership reflects that.
You grew up in the dark days of apartheid and survived attempts to stifle
your voice by those who refused to allow you to broadcast on FM wave band. But
you grew and flourished and now you voice will be heard in even far away
places. You have remained positive about our country at a time when it was
politically expedient and even fashionable within certain quarters to predict
doom and gloom about our country.
You have offered humour and advice and opened the world of democracy to
those who had been told that all African National Congress (ANC) people were
terrorists and were fearful of what democracy would mean for them. Under
apartheid, you walked the tightrope of censorship, careful about what you could
report on under the ever watchful eye of the apartheid authorities. During that
time you remained a refreshing alternative to the state radio stations which
simply put across the official view.
Under democracy you have retained your social conscience and avoided falling
into the trap of believing that being independent and impartial means that you
must of necessity be anti-government. Being independent doesn't mean that you
must not take sides or that you must sit on the fence on many of the major
issues facing our country. 702 in particular has chosen to take a stand against
social ills and to support democracy and social justice.
Your station also contributes to the deepening of our democracy in that you
give all listeners a voice, regardless of their social standing; yet you are
able to hold accountable the most powerful members of our society, in
government, in business and in other civil society sectors. You engage with
challenges and interact with Gauteng residents and provide a platform for them
to debate the most pressing social issues of the day.
You have been able to promote national reconciliation and social cohesion by
enabling a diverse range of people from different backgrounds to learn to
accept and tolerate each other, to get to know each other better, albeit across
the air waves and even to care for each other and provide assistance to others
in need.
In short, 702 is an invaluable member of the Gauteng community and we value
your contribution to the strengthening of our community. Discussion, debate and
information will be of increasing importance as we work together to build
Gauteng into a Globally Competitive City Region.
I wish you well in continuing to provide compelling listening while serving
the community and contributing to the improvement of people's lives. And now
that you are on FM I have personally enjoyed clear uninterrupted
transmission.
Thank you.
Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
14 September 2006
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za)
