Unhappy presenters turned to the Middelburg Observer after they claim their voice was snubbed.<\/p>\n
“We went on air on 8 July to explain the situation and our grievances to our listeners. The broadcast was cut short. At the time they told us it was a technical problem,” said Pricilla Makhubela.<\/p>\n
Board Treasurer, Charles Makua, said that the presenters were disciplined after board members heard them saying horrendous things on radio.<\/p>\n
These things allegedly include accusing one of the board members of infertility and questioning how someone that cannot produce children can be in a leadership position.<\/p>\n
“Internal issues should be handled internally. You do not go and slander someone on air because you are unhappy,” said Mr Makua.<\/p>\n
Unhappy presenters claim that they have been subject to unfair labor practices for years. And that a failure by the station management and board members to resolve these matters made them decide to air their grievances publicly.<\/p>\n
After their first broadcast was cut short, a meeting with the GMFM board took place on 12 July. It was decided that a task team, consisting out of board members, presenters and members of the community, must be formed to investigate the grievances.<\/p>\n
Everyone agreed that the radio station will go back on air. The task team was given seven days to investigate whereafter an annual general meeting would be scheduled within two weeks. The outcome of that investigation is not known.<\/p>\n
On 18 July the task team was introduced during a follow-up meeting. The minutes show that an AGM would have been planned for 8 August. It was suggested that the grievances of the presenters be tackled before that.<\/p>\n
“We do not have working toilets. The light bulbs have not been changed in ages. If you work at night, you go to the bathroom in the dark,” says Me Makhubela.<\/p>\n
Presenters claim that they have been working at GMFM, some like David Mokwena for more than 10 years, without a work contract.<\/p>\n
“We have been promised contracts since the beginning of the year but nothing has happened.”<\/p>\n
The presenters washed their dirty laundry on-air for a second time on 29 July. Broadcast was again suspended and has not been reinstated since.<\/p>\n
Mr Mokwena said that faulty equipment, a weak transmitter and frequent electricity interruptions, causing them to go off air for as long as 30 minutes, are just some of the frustrating things that caused the presenters to take drastic action.<\/p>\n
“If we had a better transmitter we would be able to grow our audience. The electricity problems in the building cause us to go of air in the middle of a broadcast. Just imagine how many listeners we are losing because of that,” said Mr Mokwena.<\/p>\n
The presenters say that they are unhappy about the station manager, Kagiso Komane, and want him to step down.<\/p>\n
Since the fallout between the presenters, station management and the board almost 30 presenters have been living at the GMFM offices out of protest.<\/p>\n
“We sleep, cook and wash there. We are not leaving until we get answers,” says Lerato Motinyani who has worked as a presenter for two years.<\/p>\n
“The presenters must know that GMFM does not belong to them, it belongs to the community,” said Mr Makua.<\/p>\n
Neither Mr Makua or Mr Mnguni responded to questions emailed to them before deadline.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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